What is more important, talent or drive?
Drive. Everyone is blessed with talent. What is rare is the motivation and persistence to execute and maintain an idea or concept. It is very easy to create an idea but to follow it through day after day is where the real talent lies. Nothing in the world can take the place of a driven and passionate individual.

On a scale of one to ten, how significant a role does luck play when it comes to success?
Two. People create their own luck. The harder you work, the luckier you become. Luck is the result of a solid foundation, hard work, motivation and opportunity.

Which is more critical, the idea or the execution?
Execution. New ideas are a dime a dozen. To be successful is to take the idea and make it a reality. The only way to achieve that is through hard work, persistence and determination. It is extremely challenging to stay committed to one idea and that is where many people fall short.

Is it better to be passionate or objective?
Being passionate and objective go hand in hand. Passion is the key driving factor which allows a business or idea to continue to be driven on a daily basis. Being objective allows you to continuously innovate and change as need be or as the market requires.

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

1. Drive
   Confidence
   Relationship skills
   Talent
   Organisational skills

What one trait has helped you most in business?
Great communication skills and the ability to build solid relationships in business are vital. My husband Richard and I work as a team. We are in sync with each other's strengths; we know what our roles are and focus on them. My relationships with colleagues and clients are very important to me. I believe it is those relationships that enable our business to continue to grow. It is what makes our business such a joy to be involved in. The key to our success is staying focused day in day out, not losing sight of our goals and keeping the momentum alive. It is a team effort and being humble enough to recognise that.

What is the one trait that has hindered you most in business?
Initially, as we were growing the business, I took up a lot of the tasks myself. I learnt that the key to a balanced life was to delegate some of those tasks to others.

What is the hardest lesson you've learned and how did you learn it?
With great success comes greater sacrifice.

What is the one piece of advice you would offer other women in business?
It is important to be confident in your abilities. Stay focused and committed to your idea. The harder you work, the more rewarding the outcome will be. Believe in yourself and your goals. If you don't believe in yourself, no one will take you seriously. I once read that to be successful is to focus all of your energy on what you desire to achieve.

"Success is focusing the full power of all you are on what you have a burning desire to achieve." - Wilfred A. Peterson

What are the biggest mistakes you see women making in business?
Some women feel the need to prove themselves in the workplace as they think they have fewer opportunities and/or respect than men. Too often, I see women overcompensating to fit in or gain acceptance from their colleagues. A woman should be confident in herself and her abilities without the need to continuously seek approval. Embrace being a woman and be empowered by it - utilise your natural qualities in the workplace.