How do you usually start your day when nothing is pressing?
With coffee and fresh air. It is usually still dark as I am up with the birds. Whether it’s a busy day or not, I start with a list. Things to get done, things that I am grateful for and my wins from yesterday. It gives me the positive mindset I need to get started.
Tea or coffee – and what’s your ideal cup?
I drink both, but usually coffee first.
What’s a small routine or habit you quietly enjoy?
Journaling and stretching. I have started getting into lymphatic drainage too, so you might find me hopping up and down out my back garden in the mornings.
What song, book, or programme do you always return to?
Friends – I know every episode word for word.
What’s something people often get wrong about you?
I am the epitome of Angry Resting Face – I generally look in a foul mood, but it’s just my face!
What’s a moment in your life that changed how you see the world?
Getting my Masters in Management & Marketing and buying my new house (at the same time). I realised for sure that we can do anything we put our minds to.
What values matter most to you when making difficult decisions?
I’m generally decisive, and though decisions can be tough, I have good intuition. I can also quickly assess how a decision will pan out and what the immediate and long-term impact will be. I avoid short-term avoidance for long-term results.
What has leadership taught you about yourself?
That we are all so different, but in the end, everyone wants the same thing. Ultimately, to be happy. I lead with compassion. Life is very short. I also look back on the jobs I had. Some break you, and some make you. Like parenting, you take a small lesson from many people, but at the end of the day, you need to be authentic to yourself.
What keeps you grounded when things feel demanding or uncertain?
My family. At the end of the day, that is all that matters. I used to be the person who took work home with me, on holidays, on sick days, but that leads to burnout and an unhealthy work-life balance.
What always helps you switch off and reset?
I go back to my lists. You must close the loop. At the end of the day, I write down what I achieved and anything outstanding.
What’s a simple pleasure that never fails to lift your mood?
A decent coffee and a chat with a good friend. I am also a big believer in the 5 ways to wellbeing, which focus on Connection, Movement, Being Present, Learning and Giving. All simple ways to maintain and improve mental health.
If you had a completely free weekend, how would you spend it?
Partly outdoors and partly snuggled on the sofa. It would depend on both the weather and my mood. A nice hike in Wicklow, followed by lunch in Avoca and ending at home with a glass of wine and a movie.
What’s something you’re genuinely looking forward to this year?
My trip to Rome for my 10th wedding anniversary and Christmas.
What’s a joke, saying, or story that never fails to make you smile?
My husband always says, “It’s better to look at it than for it,” and I apply that to everything now. He won’t appreciate that when I take 12 pairs of shoes on our 4-day trip to Rome.
