Layoung the Groundwork
My journey started at the University of Bath where I studied Politics with Economics with additional modules in Business and Technology, graduating with First Class Honours. But the real education came from climbing Kilimanjaro for charity and hitchhiking to Paris - experiences that taught me plans are great, but they're nothing without problem-solving.
Early roles at Ofgem and IBM gave me a foundation in analysis and project management, but I knew I wanted to be where business decisions really happen - on the front line.
Scaling Giants
Joining Aldi in 2013 as an Area Manager was like business boot camp. Managing 4 stores, 120 people, and £48M in revenue taught me that strategy is nothing without great execution. I opened 32 stores in 15 months and reduced the payroll needed per opening by 53% - not with theory, but by getting stuck in, understanding the supply chain, and fixing inefficiencies.
Building from Zero to £200M
When COVID hit, Aldi needed online grocery - fast. I built and led the amazing team that launched Click & Collect in just 17 weeks, eventually building it into a £200M+ business. We improved efficiency 400%, saved £9M annually, and created the UK's most efficient in-store picking operation.
As Director of Digital Transformation, I led 150+ people and was fortunate to work on a very cool checkout-free store. This experience reinforced that the recipe for succes is aligning teams, fostering innovative solutions, removing blockers, and maintaining daily momentum until results are delivered.
Going Independent
After a career break to focus on family (best decision ever), I decided to go independent. Why? Because I saw too many businesses struggling with problems I knew how to solve - but they couldn't afford big consultancies or didn't need permanent hire.
My first major project proved the model: a family-run automotive supplies business two weeks from closure. Within months, we'd reduced HMRC debt by 90%, increased sales 80%, and built sustainable financial controls. Not through magic, but through practical problem-solving and hands-on delivery.