1. How do you feel MES helped prepare you for university and beyond?
Looking back, I enjoyed my time at school – half in Queen Street and half at Ravelston (Class of 1971) – and was fortunate to have several friendships from my year that have endured to the present day. MES helped me look forward positively and confidently and to endeavour to make the best attempt at everything, wherever life may take you.
2. How did you decide what to study at university, and what were you hoping for from your university experience?
My dilemma was that I was not drawn to teaching, law, medicine or accountancy, and in 1971, there were fewer known career paths than exist now in 2026. It was a time when any university degree carried some weight on a CV, so I chose to do a broader BA degree at Edinburgh where I was able to combine maths alongside arts subjects.
3. You mentioned going to university for the experience rather than a specific career path. How did that mindset shape your professional journey?
I suppose I was taking a step-by-step approach to life with no clear career mapped out, unlike many of my peers. First step was to achieve a degree. The career adviser at Edinburgh told me to try different jobs until I found something that I liked. I was still living in the family home, so had the financial luxury of doing this, and it was easier to find jobs in the 1970s.
4. Tell me about your early career.
I would never actually recommend my career path to anyone! However, I can testify that it is sometimes amazing the opportunities that arise when you are not so focussed on a long-term dream that you miss things that occur along the way. I got a Christmas Job in the retail store R.W Forsyth’s, while looking for a ‘proper’ job, and this led on to being offered a full training with an experienced fashion buyer and exciting trips to salons in London and the Paris Pret-a-Porter. I became a buyer and had four fabulous years in the fashion retail trade.
5. How did you decide what to do next?
Unfortunately, R.W. Forsyth’s did not survive business rate increases on Princes Street nor the whole financial climate on the 1970’s, and the business closed. A broken heart in my personal life at the time made me decide not to seek work with a competitor, and I answered a newspaper ad for sales personnel with a US insurance company – ‘no experience required.’ This was a completely new start for me, but I was given the most excellent sales training and went on to work for this company for seven years on commission only basis. I achieved a few accreditations and went on to run a team.
6. After working in the insurance industry, you came back to Scotland to work as a Sales Manager in Scottish Highland Hotels. How did you approach learning curves when entering a completely new sector?
With sales and business development experience, it is comparatively easy to move into a new sector. The challenge is more about quickly assimilating enough knowledge of the company, the product and procedures. It is important to take every opportunity to learn from more experienced colleagues.
7. Most recently, you worked as a Business Development Executive for the Midlothian and East Lothian Chamber of Commerce. What drew you to the Chamber of Commerce, and what kept you passionate about it for so many years?
During my time with Scottish Highland Hotels, I was also a carer for my mother. So, I was coping with that and my own career pathway was taking second place. It was not possible for me to move away from Edinburgh for potential career advancement, and a friend in a recruitment agency told me of the role at the Chamber of Commerce. I had no idea such a job existed – let alone understood the function of the chamber. Such is the serendipity of life! Amazingly, this job was relevant to my entire skill set and experience. Over the years, I became passionate about the Chamber because I got to meet with businesses across all sectors, engage with them and learn about their services, their successes and their challenges, and help them get support. It was a very rewarding role, and I was working alongside some marvellous colleagues.
8. What were some of the highlights of your time at the Chamber of Commerce – any business ventures or projects that stand out?
What stands out most is that I was fortunate to have contact with businesses that I might never have otherwise had the chance of doing, and I loved learning all about them. And on a few occasions, I was able to use my school Russian and university French and Mandarin. I also discovered that the geography I learned at school is superior to many colleagues I have worked with over the years! In the course of my job, I engaged with incredible organisations like the Midlothian Science Zone, many food & drink/ hospitality businesses and with Skyrora, who are leading the way in Scotland’s space sector. Our Chamber team and members were often invited ‘behind the scenes’ to place like EDF Torness Nuclear Power Station and other large organisations. Had I not been in my 60s at this stage, it would have been relatively easy for me to find employment through the many contacts I had built up and progress my career further, and I was offered a couple of positions without having to seek them out. But it suited me to stay in the job I loved at the Chamber and the great team I was working with.
9. You worked with Bright Green Business while working at the Midlothian and East Lothian Chamber of Commerce – can you explain what this organisation does and the importance of sustainability in business?
Bright Green Business is a sister organisation to the Midlothian & East Lothian Chamber, offering a network of environmental support to SMEs, environmental internships, and a strong engagement with schools in Fife and beyond. Increasingly businesses have been seeking help with their carbon footprint and sustainability in their processes and Bright Green is able to steer them successfully. Evidence of sustainability has become increasingly important to businesses when tendering for contracts.
10. What do you think the future holds for small businesses?
Well-established SMEs can offer some great opportunities for internships, apprenticeships and long-term careers. Most successful SME business owners want to recruit young people who are qualified, but more importantly have a good attitude to working within their business, fitting in with colleagues and could share the owner’s passion for the business. It seems random that some small businesses survive and grow well, whereas others don’t make it in these tough times. I believe the survivors have owners and management teams who are 100% passionate about their business, who are able to put their back catalogue of experience to the best use, and who have learned how important it is to be adaptable.
11. You’ve moved across different sectors – retail, insurance, hospitality, and business development. What skills helped you adapt successfully each time?
I think it’s important to be a good team player and fit in with new colleagues. The knowledge can come later. And not going down the “that’s not in my job description” route has meant much more fun in most of my jobs and a greater understanding of the business as a whole. I remember an incident where a hotel General Manager, a Financial Manager and myself as Sales Manager had to single-handedly complete full housekeeping duties across several rooms at speed in an emergency situation before guest arrivals – no one complained and it was great fun!
12. What advice would you give to students who are unsure what career they want to pursue?
Consider everything. Don’t become so focussed on a long-term goal that you might miss great opportunities that pop up along the journey. A job you might consider ‘temporary’ may turn out to offer unimagined prospects.
13. How important is networking for career progression and business growth?
I can’t stress strongly enough how important face-to-face networking opportunities are for everyone. Experience has taught me over many years how important networking is and how rewarding it can be. Everyone can get something positive from networking opportunities at any stage of career, and my advice would be to learn how to do it well, be visible and keep practising until you feel 100% comfortable with it. Contacts made through networking can turn out to be invaluable support for any current job or to help with finding a new position.
14. You retired in May 2025 (congratulations!). What are your hopes for the next chapter?
Having worked without a single break since leaving university, I am still enjoying some totally unstructured leisure time, which I think I deserve! In this new year, I will be planning some voluntary work and some travel.
