Can you tell us a little bit about yourself, where you grew up, and your career journey to date?
I grew up in Glasgow and still live in the area where I was born. I like it because it’s so close to the City Centre. I previously worked for a large safety clothing company doing administration and answering calls on an extremely busy switchboard. I was eventually moved to sales, and it was then that I decided it was time for me to move on and explore a different opportunity. In 2007, I started working at Strathclyde University Incubator. I really enjoyed working there – I dealt with lots of entrepreneurs who rented office space and so got to see lots of interesting business ideas as the companies changed over the years. When Strathclyde University Incubator closed I began working in my current role as an Entrepreneurship Assistant for Strathclyde Inspire, within the Innovation and Industry Engagement Directorate.
When I’m not at work, I love socialising with my friends and going to concerts, but my favourite thing is walking and taking photos. I’ve started doing this a lot more since lockdown, as it kept me occupied during that time.
What is your role at the University of Strathclyde and what are your main responsibilities?
My role in the University is Entrepreneurship Assistant. My responsibilities are covering the reception desk in the Strathclyde Inspire Hub, various admin duties and making sure that everything runs smoothly in the hub on a daily basis.
What are you currently excited about in your job?
My favourite part of my role is meeting lots of entrepreneurs and hearing about the ideas they are working on. When I worked at the Strathclyde University Incubator I was working on my own for several months, so I also love the buzz around the Hub and working with and talking to different colleagues.
Why should University staff, students and alumni work with the team at Strathclyde Inspire?
The Strathclyde Inspire team is great – anyone with a business idea should get in touch with us as there are plenty of people with a lot of specialised knowledge and experience who can help them.
If you could have an unlimited supply of one thing, what would it be?
Cheese - the stronger, the better!
What three items would you take to a desert island?
A telescope, music, and a kindle for reading lots of books.