This week we are celebrating International Women’s Day by championing our very own, inspirational female leaders.
We talk to Marie Grundy, Sales Director at West One Loans to get a glimpse into what motivates her, challenges her – and charities she supports.
- Who inspires you to live your best life?
Ultimately my family and close friends inspire me to make sure there is a good balance between the demands of working life alongside the opportunity to really make the most out of downtime and I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to make some lifelong memories for my son in recent years. Unfortunately in life you always come across tragic incidents which makes you mindful that you have to make the most out of every situation and that makes me more determined to get the best out of life.
- If there was one charity you could donate to, which would you choose?
It would be a charity called Candlelighters which is a Yorkshire based charity offering emotional and financial support to families affected by childhood cancer. My cousin tragically lost her 13 year old daughter to leukaemia and I know she was very grateful of the support provided by Candlelighters throughout her child’s prolonged illness so it is a charity with special meaning in our family.
- What keeps you up at night?
Overall I am generally good at not letting situations cause significant anxiety. I think we all go through stages where the stresses of life can take its toll and that is part and parcel of modern living but I am fortunate that I have good people around me who are a constant source of advice and wisdom which can really help to get perspective on particular areas of concern.
- On hard days, what motivates you to get up and start your day?
I can’t remember the last time I had issues with motivation to start my day. I’m fortunate to work for a great business alongside a highly talented and driven team which makes working life something to look forward to rather than dread
- What was the biggest challenge you faced in your career?
Undoubtedly it was working in the late 2000’s when the credit crunch really took a grip of financial services. These were unprecedented times presenting huge challenges for businesses and families alike. Even though I would never want to repeat those times the positive is that it was a great lesson in life to expect the unexpected and to ensure that you don’t let complacency become your downfall. The ability to adapt to changing circumstances is the best survival kit of all and this period of my career has definitely left me better equipped to deal with future challenges.
For more information about International Women’s Day visit https://www.internationalwomensday.com/