Tell us a little about yourself?

I am a bookkeeper by trade. I have been blessed with years of experience in public and private practice, working in both accounting and bookkeeping. I am not just a business owner, but a devoted wife, and only recently have I been lucky enough to become a mother to my beautiful baby girl, Aleena. I enjoy watching my daughter grow and develop into a strong and independent human being, and I also love getting stuck into numbers. I am still finding my work-life balance, but I am passionate about working with businesses to not just meet their compliance needs, but also find opportunities for their businesses to grow and achieve greater success using numbers.

Who are the women who have inspired you most in your life?

My mother has been a great inspiration in my life – not just as a businesswoman, but as a mother, and as a kind, caring person. My mother has shown me how to find success and happiness in my life. She taught me the importance of family, of working hard, and of doing what you love.

Any other female leaders you look up to?

There are so many and for so many different reasons. To name a few women, I think of Katherine Hepburn, Beyonce, JK Rowling, Ellen DeGeneres, Oprah Winfrey, Queen Elizabeth II, and Princess Diana.

Why do you think it’s important to increase the number of women in business, particularly in leadership roles?

All businesses benefit from a diverse leadership team to support their business needs, whether this is in the way of different genders, ethnicity, age, levels of experience and qualifications.

What do you think are barriers for women in the recruitment process?

I feel that we are seeing a lot of barriers fall away, however stereotypical gender roles still hold women back in the recruitment process. I believe there is still a misconception that mothers cannot be as career-focused as fathers.

What do you think contributes to the lack of females taking the plunge in entrepreneurship?

Entrepreneurship holds a great deal of risk. I feel that women often have a more accurate assessment of risk, and tend to be much more risk-averse.

What more can be done to support women in male-dominated industries?

Building a good support network is crucial for women to see success in male-dominated industries.