Womenspire - Shared Inspiration
Sophie Hughes
Co-founder of Mazuma UK Ltd.
‘My car inspires me – it’s the best thinking space’
“Making money inspires me, as it means I can pay my mortgage off
and enjoy more disposable income. I’ve always wanted to run my
own
business. I chose to go into accountancy because I had an aptitude for
numbers and am a logical thinker. When my co-founder Lucy Cohen and I
set up Mazuma, we had to overcome stereotypes from other accountants
assuming that because we were young and female, we couldn’t possibly be
competent.
In some ways, being perceived as young has helped us to promote Mazuma as a friendly, innovative and customer-focused brand. My work-life balance is very much work heavy at the moment but I am happy with that. My car is a space that inspires me as it’s where I have a chance to think and come up with ideas. I feel proud that the company has expanded so quickly but it does involve a lot of time and hard work. I try and keep weekends’ free though to enjoy hobbies like horse riding, socialising with my friends and I’m currently training for my first half marathon in October, which is a great goal to work towards. My proudest moment to date was winning the Shell Live-Wire Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2007. It was a fantastic feeling to have our family there to share in our achievement.”
Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson
Welsh Athlete and TV Presenter
“I have to have confidence in my own ability when others try and place limits on it”
“Being at home with my family inspires me the most. When you have a busy home and work life, it’s inevitable that you have to make compromises but it’s important to enjoy the time you do have at home and relax...”
Hayley Parsons
Founder and Chief Executive of GoCompare.com
“I get my inspiration from seeing others succeed”
“I get my inspiration from seeing people I work with improve and succeed in their roles.
To inspire myself, I set myself goals and targets to reach and I get such a thrill when I achieve them... I really appreciate the time I get to relax with my son and partner. I try my best not to work at weekends so I have plenty of time for picnics and bike rides with my family...”
Sian Lloyd
TV broadcaster
“Wales voting 'yes' to devolution was my most inspiring moment”
“I am inspired by so many different things, including people I meet, places I travel, books I read and the art and food I enjoy.
The last time I felt truly inspired was in January, when I visited Patagonia in Argentina. It is a beautiful place and I was inspired by the passion of the Welsh people there to keep the language and culture alive...”
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