Inspiring Women In Our Community – Celebrating International Women’s Day 2018
Is anything possible? Can you have a successful career when you have a young family? Can you do something brand new even if you do not have any experience in a new field? Can you be successful even though you have left school with no qualification? Can passion for something be enough to form a successful business?
We have been in touch with 5 very different, and successful and inspirational ladies to find out about their journey. Desirable gift ideas were researched too as Mothers Day is so close.
Cllr Christine Hamilton
Number of Children: 2 and 5 grandchildren
Organisation’s Name and Job Role: London Borough of Enfield, Mayor of Enfield 2017-2018
Previous Jobs: NHS – Public Health, Union Trade Union
Reasons for doing your job? Community commitment, striving for equality and fairness
Key Successes: Currently a Councillor and the Mayor of Enfield. Previously a cabinet member and just been appointed as the first woman board member for Enfield Town Football Club
Ideal Mother’s Day Gift: Donation to the Mayors Charity, Enfield Cares
Nina Lewis – Hart
Number of Children: 2
Organisation’s Name and Job Role: Platinum Performing Arts Principal
Previous Jobs / Professions: Fitness Instructor, Personal Trainer, Events Organiser
Reasons for starting the business / doing your job? – Platinum Performing Arts School is a
non-profit organisation that has just celebrated its 10 th anniversary. The school was set up by Nina in order to provide professional dance classes and musical theatre opportunities for local children. Nina left school being unable to read and write and has since gone on to achieve great things with PPAS; she has always wanted to give back to the community and provide performing arts opportunities that were unavailable to her as a young girl due to lack of funds.
The school is located in Edmonton, a highly deprived, diverse and high crime suburb of North London. Despite the hardship many of our children face on a daily basis, PPAS has managed to provide a focus and create opportunities and ambition for many local young people who otherwise would not have had them. Many of our students have now gone on to secure scholarships at top performing arts schools and colleges. PPAS are committed to providing students with top quality training and preparation for the professional dance industry. We have been running boys’ ballet classes for many years now; we are pleased that we are able to provide ballet classes to a number of young boys who would not normally have the opportunity to access these
classes.
Winning the title of ‘Dance School of the Year’ would be an amazing achievement and an honour to not only the PPAS staff but we also know it would install great pride in our students who are so committed to their training here at PPAS .
Key Successes: Believing, Dream, Achieve
Ideal Mother’s Day Gift: Family Day Out
Tessa Roszkowski
Number of Children: 1
Organisation’s Name and Job Role: Director of Tessa Stevens Health & Beauty
Previous Jobs / Professions: PGCE in teaching Beauty Therapy
Reasons for starting the business? I have a combined passion for beauty therapy and business. I wanted to create a place where I knew I could make my clients feel good about themselves and a place where staff enjoyed working.
Key Successes: My staff who have been with many for many years, our awards that we have one, 10 years in business, loyal client base
Ideal Mother’s Day Gift: Time with my family, clear scans every six months and making new memories.
Diana Alexander
Number of Children: 1
Organisation’s Name and Job Role: Southgate School, Associate Assistant Head Teacher
Previous Jobs: Have always been a teacher
Reasons for starting the business / doing your job?
Doing my PGCE was a reason for staying at University for another year
Key Successes: Still being in a job I love 22 years later! I was lucky that my slightly random reason for doing a PGCE paid off. My key successes have been to work in two schools with the most amazing colleagues. This is not a job you can do without the support of them.
Having a supportive family also helps. The long hours and stress takes it’s toll and you need those closest to you to understand the pressures of the job. The fact that I have this is one of my biggest successes.
Finally, staying positive about the young people I teach. It’s hard being a teacher but it’s also hard being a teenager. The majority of children I teach and have taught over the years have been wonderful, happy and respectful and that makes my job worth doing.
Ideal Mother’s Day Gift: More time with my son who makes me a better person.
Lisa Robson
Number of Children: Two and Two Step Children
Organisation’s Name and Job Role: Baby Sensory – Business owner and class leader
Previous Jobs / Professions: Operational Director in research Industry,
Reasons for starting the business? Always wanted to but never felt confident enough but I was made redundant so push came to shove and I launched when my second baby was six months!
Key Successes: Running nine classes a week. A finalist in Whats on 4 awards 2016 for outstanding class leader South Region. Published a bedtime book; Good Night Sleep Tight by Lisa Robson
Ideal Mother’s Day Gift: Cuddles, home made things by the kids, a spa day if it comes from their dad!
Is anything possible… Definitely!
By Andrea Krase, Owner and Founder or Sophia’s Diary www.sophias-diary.com Enfield’s Only Children’s Directory.
February 2018