What time does your alarm go off?
5.50 am during the week, when I try to haul myself out of bed to go for a run. Failing that I enjoy the calm before the inevitable chaos of walking our two dogs and trying to organise myself and my two children to leave the house on time.
What’s the first thing you do when you get to work?
I grab a coffee and have a quick catch up with the team.
How long have you worked at Ashton Gate
Nearly two years.
Before working at Ashton Gate, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I worked at the National Theatre when I was 17 which was pretty exciting. I saw every play and got to hang out with the actors in the Green Room every night. Outside of that it was probably working for Hearst Communications and Cosmopolitan in particular. I learnt so much in that environment particularly about brand marketing, media and sales.
What do you like most of about working at Ashton Gate?
I love the pace and diversity of my role which is both extremely challenging and rewarding. There is so much scope to develop and to push boundaries but more importantly I feel part of something that is genuinely making a positive and lasting impact on people’s lives. I have never felt so emotionally invested.
How do you define success?
Being the best version of myself, continuous development, achieving goals, adventure and being surrounded by the people I most love and respect.
What does leadership mean to you?
Leadership means doing the right thing with passion and commitment and creating a culture of continuous development where people feel supported to do their best and where effort, talent and results are recognised and rewarded. Leadership is about setting the vision and bold goals, having confidence in your actions, being creative, unafraid to take risks and learning from your failures. And importantly it’s about setting the right example, integrity and taking responsibility for your actions.
What 2019 concert are you looking forward to most at Ashton Gate?
Probably the Spice Girls. They had a huge impact on a generation and even my 12 year old daughter knows Wannabe.
How do you balance your career and family?
With great difficulty! The key is being focused and carving out quality time where I invest in them and what we’re doing. Luckily we all love Bristol Flyers so we have a shared passion and I can combine work and seeing my family at the same time.
If you could switch your job with anyone else in the business who would it be?
Chef George Opondo. I’d love the challenge of running my own kitchen and creating new and exciting dishes. Outside of that it would definitely be one of the Flyers team. I’d love to make a game winning, three point buzzer beater.
What advice do you have for prospective Ashton Gate candidates?
There are so many incredible opportunities for bright, creative, hardworking and passionate individuals. If you are excited by challenge and are looking for a dynamic place to work which offers development and a range of career paths then this in the place for you. It really is more than just a job.
