What is more important, talent or drive?
Drive. I have a strong bias for performance and delivery so I personally value drive. Latent talent is a waste without drive. A successful and inclusive leader knows the importance of forming a team where the combination of drive and talent is manifest in results.

On a scale of one to ten, how significant a role does luck play when it comes to success?
Three. I don't really believe in the concept of luck when it comes to career success. When you dig a bit deeper, what looks like luck is usually the culmination of consistent performance delivery and a series of planned or considered actions managed by you and the people who support you, over a period of time.

Which is more critical, the idea or the execution?
Execution. Many companies have the capacity to generate new ideas and concepts. Few have the capacity to see them through and achieve excellence through execution.

Is it better to be passionate or objective?
Passionate. Being a motivational leader in a challenging external environment cannot be achieved without authentic passion for and belief in what you are doing. Being objective might engage the minds but being passionate will engage the hearts in an organisation. To be a successful leader, you need to do both.

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

1. Drive
   Relationship skills
   Talent
   Organisational skills
   Confidence

What one trait has helped you most in business?
Being empathetic. Emotional intelligence is often under-rated as a key leadership attribute. I find connecting with people personally is one of the most rewarding and effective ways to help them be successful and perform beyond their own expectations.

What is the one trait that has hindered you most in business?
Being impatient. Change stimulates me but I have learnt that it can be distracting and destabilising for others. Learning to harness my impatience for change has been a significant challenge.

What is the hardest lesson you've learned and how did you learn it?
Leadership can be a bit lonely especially combined with a marriage and a family. I don't have the time I'd like to spend on personal relationships and my life is mostly defined by my family and my career.

What is the one piece of advice you would offer other women in business?
Back yourself and don't underestimate what you can achieve in your career. Many women tend to adopt too much self doubt about their own potential and don't identify key supporters who can help them set more challenging goals for themselves.

What are the biggest mistakes you see women making in business?
Adopting stereotypical "male behaviour" when being dominant, aggressive and very direct is not their natural or authentic style. This alienates both the men and the women around them who may otherwise have been supporters.