Gay White

To me, the measure of a good leader is how many leaders they leave in their wake, so leadership brings the best out in others. I very much like the idea of servant leadership – when a leader steps back to let others develop and is there to support and inspire, but can take the helm in a crisis.

To be curious is a real gift – always interested in learning new skills. I have found that the more I stretch myself, the more I grow, and as a female leader, it is essential to build one’s confidence. It is never too late to develop new skills and branch out into something new.

I was fortunate to have direct experience with a most effective leader – the late Cormac McCarthy. I was his colleague when he joined the finance function in First Active and became CEO and later CEO of the Ulster Bank Group. He was a robust and transformational leader who cared about his employees. But the most striking thing about Cormac was that he was very aware of his limitations and never tried to deny them; instead, he brought a strong team around him to complement his skill set.

Of course, as a female, I think of such leaders as Margaret Sweeney and Brid Horan, to name just a couple, who worked hard in male-dominated industries to come through the glass ceiling before we ever heard that concept.

I always think that when things don’t work out as expected, there is a reason and always something to be learned. Because of that, I can’t really say that I experienced failure. At one time, when I found my job was less than stimulating, I decided to look for that stimulation elsewhere. That’s when I began my studies as a mature student. I first did a BA in Psychology and then went on to do an MSc in Organisational Psychology, all as a distance education student, while I moved into an L&D role. That was life-changing for me.

There are so many leaders I have encountered that no matter how much they have on their agenda, they still can find the time to meet with a colleague who has a problem, although they know that they will have to catch up on their schedule later. They never look as if they don’t have time to help out a colleague. Yet they can manage to ensure that they get downtime too. It’s a little like on the plane when you are asked to put the mask over your face before helping others – if a leader doesn’t engage in self-care, they can spin themselves out.

Do your homework – make sure you are aware of your responsibilities as a director. Join a network. Ensure that you are in tune with the company and believe in their offering and how they do business. During the difficult times, your passion for the company and what they do will take you through, and you can be at your most effective.

That’s a tricky one – I am very much interested in all aspects of education – particularly for those who don’t have as easy access to it as most people, for whatever reason. As I strongly believe in the power of education, perhaps something around educating girls in countries that don’t value educating their girls. Otherwise, I love the work of the Hospice, easing the inevitable final journey that we will all make in the end.