What’s one of the biggest challenges in your industry?

The lack of women at a senior and founder level. Corporate Investigations at the top end is heavily male dominated. This has changed little in the nearly 15 years I’ve been in the industry – particularly in comparison to the other professional services alongside which we work frequently, like the law or finance. While undeniably one can draw advantages from being an outlier (thank you, Malcolm Gladwell), fundamentally the dynamic is disadvantageous: it creates a stereotype of what or who an investigator is (which those who don’t fit are required to dismantle/challenge) and the notion that only a certain kind of person can succeed (which you have to talk yourself out of). Lastly, I find it professionally embarrassing to appear almost retrograde in comparison to our peers. I am heartened however to see this shifting in the generations coming up in the industry, and excited to see what these female investigators achieve and how they change the game.

Which element of The Society are you most excited about?

I’m really excited for the opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences with fellow founders and entrepreneurs. I’ve already found our committee meetings to be hugely inspirational so having this on a bigger scale will be great. In terms of membership offerings: education and increasing my financial literacy. Knowledge really is power. Having the support to be the best we can be at work or in our businesses is only half the battle won if we don’t know how best to use our earnings to create a solid foundation for the future.

How do you like to spend your Sundays?

My Sundays are definitely a game of two halves! Strong start with some kind of exercise class in the morning, then a cappuccino and a walk. The afternoon a little less ambitious/regimented – catch up with friends, cook, maybe a little bit of company admin. In sum, I’m probably not changing the world on Sunday evenings!