Freight forwarding was as fascinating as it sounds! I saw an advert for a course to study marketing, exporting and French, including 6-weeks at a college in Paris. Whilst I enjoyed other elements of the course, what I really learnt is I love to travel! Most of my twenties were spent travelling, saving to go travelling, or thinking about travelling!

As I reached my late 20s, I realised I had no meaningful qualifications. No meaningful work experience. And no meaningful job prospects. It was time to find a ‘proper’ job. I moved to London and had a bit of a shock. No employer believed I wasn’t going travelling again. This working business was not going to be as easy as I thought! So, I went back to temping, and found myself working in a top 5 accountancy firm. I hated the corporate life, but apparently potential employers loved it.

Before long, I had a permanent job. I was the office administrator for a US-based software company. And, they seemed to like me. The Marketing Manager left, and based on that qualification from years ago, I was offered the job of European, Middle East and Africa Marketing Manager. Yes, reader, I had fallen on my feet!

I loved my role as Marketing Manager - I was able to travel to conferences and events around the world. I regularly spent 2 - 3 weeks at a time in California. This was the time of the ‘dot com’ boom. My career kept progressing and each time my company purchased another company, I was promoted.

But, yes, there is a but! I loved my job and had incredible colleagues but software marketing was all about the money. The car you drove was important. To a traveller (and the person with the oldest car in the car park!) I realised my values were not aligned with others in the organisation. So, I left to… go travelling!

Meanwhile, Sam had been busy setting up a childcare company. The company had grown, and I offered to go and help her with accounts and admin. After a few months it became apparent that I was never going to leave. Sam asked me if I’d like to officially join her in the company and we set about growing it.

I’d survived on my BTEC for many year, but when my husband signed up for a 6-month course away from home I thought I would need something to occupy me whilst he was away. I looked at the University website, and somehow found myself signed up for an MBA. I LOVED studying and was delighted to graduate with a distinction.

Since setting up the Club Central conference my life has changed considerably. I have another qualification - Level 7 Coaching and Mentoring and l support business leaders across a range of business sectors with their business growth and development.

And I am delighted to be an Expert Adviser about Wraparound Childcare as part of the Childcare Works team responsible for the successful delivery of the National Wraparound Childcare Programme.

I’ve still got my backpack as thoughts of my next travel adventure are never too far away!