Q: How did you get where you are today, and did anyone (or something) help you along the way?

A: I have been helped by many inspiring people in various stages of my life and my career. It’s like walking on the road to Emmaus: we are never alone. Sometimes we don’t fully appreciate the immense influence that certain people and experiences have had on our lives until we look back.

In my role as the Chief Executive of the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building I’m truly fortunate to work with some remarkable people, particularly my Chairman, Lord Alderdice – a man of profound insight, courage, integrity, loyalty and kindness.

Q: Tell me about a project or accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career!

A: At any given time, I would normally manage 6-7 different projects, sometimes very diverse and complex. That’s the nature of my work.

Throughout my career I managed a large retail company, run business consultancy, organised film festivals, major cultural events and conferences, set up award-winning campaign challenging prejudice and hate crime, developed capacity building programmes for elected representatives, chaired electoral commissions, curated several TEDx events, worked as advisor and mentor and served on numerous boards.

There is no single most significant project of my career. I feel that my greatest accomplishment is being able to bring my values, passions, skills and experiences in the public, private and voluntary sectors together, to work with interesting people, and to keep learning, travelling, enjoying life and doing good.

Q: What are the most important learnings for you in leadership, entrepreneurship and mentoring others? 

A: Be authentic and true to yourself. Fully and courageously embracing your dreams, hopes and the complexities of life. Also, remember that we are human beings – not human doings or human havings. It is important to live our lives in a balanced, harmonious and sustainable way.

Q: What do you think is the most significant barrier to female leadership?

A: Self-doubt. As women we are often less confident than men, we feel less adequate and fear not having all the answers. We tend to doubt our abilities as we collect negative voices from different people at various stages in our lives. Those voices come from patriarchy, from media, from the way we tell our story and sadly, sometimes from other women. We need to nurture a self-belief that focuses on what we can achieve and what we can become; self-belief that gives us the freedom to make mistakes and to cope with setbacks.

Q: Can you talk about one woman who has impacted your life?

A: It would have to be my mum. I remember our Sunday family gatherings. After the church service we would all meet at my grandparents’ house. All the cousins would go outside to play, all the women would head to the kitchen to prepare our Sunday feast, while all the men and my mum would go to the lounge to play cards. I watched how proud my father was when she was winning. There were no issues, no barriers for her. This is what she liked to do, and she did it, and did it well. I have learned to apply the same principles in my life and my career. 

As Dame Helena Morrissey said: “quite frankly, we’ll never be as good at behaving like men as men”. We must embrace our unique qualities as female leaders.

Q: What advice would you give to younger women who want to succeed in the workplace?

A: Be confident and don’t let the fear of failing stop you from trying. You will make mistakes and you will go wrong. And sometimes it will hurt. But you will also succeed. Be grateful for every experience. Learn from it – it will make you a better leader.

Q: Can you share with us a couple of stories that have either inspired you or transformed the way you think/ act?

A: A few years ago, I came across “The Spy Who Loved” by Clare Mulley – a biography of Krystyna Skarbek (aka Christine Granville), Britain’s first female special agent of the Second World War. Skarbek, a Polish countess whose undercover exploits in occupied Europe included securing the first evidence of Hitler’s plans to invade the Soviet Union and engineering the defection of an entire Nazi German garrison, was described by Winston Churchill as his “favourite spy”. She refused to accept disapproval or failure, and for her huge contribution to the Allied war effort she was awarded three top honours – a George Medal, an OBE and the French Croix de Guerre. She was an extraordinary woman – charismatic, complex and fearless. Her remarkable life story continues to inspire me every day.

Q: What makes a Global Thinker?

A: Global Thinkers can cross boundaries and cross cultures. They don’t shy away from difference but gravitate towards it. Global Thinkers make us feel stronger, safer and less confused. They simply make others and the world around them better.