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Chief Executive Camelot Group Plc
In an illustrious career spanning over 30 years, Dianne has worked in marketing for a wide variety of companies, established her own advertising agency and even worked as a lecturer at Manchester Polytechnic. She joined Camelot, operator of the UK National Lottery in 1997 as Operations Director. As Chief Executive she has driven Camelot’s strategy for growth and is currently leading the company in its bid to operate the Lottery in the third licence period.
Dianne is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and was awarded the title of Veuve Cliquot Business Woman of the Year in 2000. In 2006 she received a CBE for services to business.
Dianne is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and was awarded the title of Veuve Cliquot Business Woman of the Year in 2000. In 2006 she received a CBE for services to business.
Q. Who or what has most inspired you in your life?
A. My parents – their work ethic, their determination and the sacrifices they made to give me the best start in life they possibly could.
Q. Who do you consider to be the most inspirational people in the world?
A. Rudi Guilliani, Nelson Mandela, Queen Noor of Jordan.
Q. What’s your definition of success?
A. Success is whatever you want it to be. Having a dream and working to achieve it is what’s important. Whether it’s professional success, forging a career, especially as a woman in a male dominated business world, or having personal goals, like running a marathon or climbing a mountain like the 20 Camelot staff who are climbing Mt Kilimanjaro this summer are doing, to raise money for the National Deaf Children’s Society.
Q. What is the key to success?
A. Hard work – and believing in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself and your ability to achieve whatever it is you want to achieve, then other people are going to find it hard to believe in you.
I was brought up with a very strong work ethic. My parents were retailers and worked 6 days a week and I was taught to believe that I could do whatever I wanted as long as I worked hard for it.
Q. What boundaries have you had to overcome in order to achieve success?
A. In my professional life I started in business at a time when it was still a hugely male-dominated world. The glass ceiling was very much in place and it was very thick! The major obstacle that I had to get over in my early career was convincing people that I was as good as and better than every male candidate for a job – otherwise I had no chance. In a job interview once I was told outright that I would have to be 10% better than the male candidates to have a chance of getting the job. I told them that was ok as I was at least 15% better! I got the job – and then worried about what on earth I had to do to carry it off.
But there came a point when it changed, and being a woman in a senior role immediately commanded respect as the belief was that if you’d got there in the first place then you must be very very good! Things are better now – but I still believe that it can be harder for women to achieve their goals and often they have to sacrifice one for the other, for example raising a family and having a successful career can still be very difficult for many women. And my personal life did suffer for my career. I’m very lucky that I have a great relationship with my daughter and we are very close.
Q. What is the most important piece of advice you’ve been given?
A. To always be honest. If you don’t know something, say so
Q. What advice would you give to women looking to get ahead in their career?
A. Start by thinking that you can do it and by being prepared to put in the graft to get there. After that it’s a case of making the most of the opportunities that come along. Create opportunity wherever you can. If you have a good idea, no matter how junior you are then tell someone – don’t wait for someone to ask you what you think. Learn from those you are working with. There is nothing like first hand experience to show you the way to do things and often the way not to do things. Ask for advice, ask for help, if you’re in the kind of career that presents networking opportunities then use them to the full.
And don’t lose faith in yourself, even if you take a few knocks along the way. It’s all experience and you can learn good lessons from it all.
Q. What’s the most important thing in your life?
A. My daughter Jo.
Q. What’s the best thing that’s happened to you?
A. Professionally – getting the job at Camelot. It’s my dream role and is more of a way of life than a job. There have been some tough times, but it’s an amazing organisation to be part of and they have been the best professional years of my life.
Personally, Jo.
Q. What’s the worst?
A. Losing my mum when she was so young. She died of cancer when I was in my early 30’s and never got the chance to be a grandmother.
Q. What’s the best mistake you’ve ever made?
A. I don’t really believe in mistakes. Situations arise and you make the best out of them that you can.
Q. What’s your favourite item of clothing?
A. I don't really have a favourite item of clothing, but I am proud of my Breast Cancer Care t-shirt that I wore to do a 10 mile sponsored walk in last summer. I was very nervous about being able to do it – but I did, and raised £16,000 for the charity in the process.
Q. Describe your style?
A. Simple, elegant and strong .
Q. How does hosiery fit into your life?
A. I usually wear a skirt to work, but being quite short it is difficult to find hosiery that fits me properly. Luckily Aristoc do a great selection of products for small ladies so I never have to go without.
Q. Suspenders, body control, opaques or sheers?
A. I like opaques in the winter and sheers in the summer.
Q. Silk or cotton?
A. Cotton for sheets, but definitely silk for underwear!
Q. Gym or Couch?
A. Gym - usually!.
Q. What makes you feel sexy?
A. A great pair of heels.
Q. One word to describe yourself….
A. Approachable.
Q. What’s your secret weapon?
A. Berocca! - a fantastic vitamin drink that keeps me healthy and gives me energy
