What is more important, talent or drive?
Drive. Talent will only get you so far. Drive will help you identify the skills and experience you need and will mean that you will do all that is needed to get those skills and experience.

On a scale of one to ten, how significant a role does luck play when it comes to success?
Three. In a lot of cases, you make your own luck by accepting any opportunity that comes your way and making the most of it. There were times when I was asked to do things that weren't a lot of fun and were a drag on my personal life, but by making sure I took those opportunities, I was in the right place at the right time for other opportunities.

Which is more critical, the idea or the execution?
Execution. The right idea without good execution won't work. The wrong idea with good execution will be found to be wrong quickly so that you can move on to the next idea.

Is it better to be passionate or objective?
Objective. Without passion, it's hard to make things happen, but if you're not objective you'll try to make the wrong things happen for the wrong reasons. Objectivity is important - once you've analysed something, being passionate about implementation is vital.

What is most and least important? Please rank your priorities.

1. Confidence
2. Drive
3. Relationship skills
4. Organisational skills
5. Talent

What one trait has helped you most in business?
My empathy with people, leading to the ability to articulate why something is important and understand and explain what the outcome will be for individuals involved. Time and again, I need to ask people to step up and do more than is outlined in any position description. When you do that, you need to understand what their passion and drivers are.

What is the one trait that has hindered you most in business?
I can be too direct at times and that can get people off side. At times I've had to do a lot of work to get those people back on side.

What is the hardest lesson you've learned and how did you learn it?
That all stakeholders needs have to be understood. I've had projects, which were vital to the area of the business I was running, derailed by stakeholders who I had neglected. This meant long delays and enormous frustration to my team and me. Early analysis of all stakeholders is vital.

What is the one piece of advice you would offer other women in business?
Think about things from the other person's perspective. It's not about whether you deserve the role or the opportunity, it's about why would that leader give me that opportunity over someone else? What is my competitive advantage? When you've worked out what it is, then show it off.

What are the biggest mistakes you see women making in business?
Getting too caught up in why they didn't get a particular opportunity - not focusing on finding the next opportunity and making sure they are seen to be the best person who has the most chance of success. If anyone thinks you're too big a risk, it's hard for them to take the risk. They need to see you as no or low risk.