What is it like being part of a large family? Great fun! We didn't have everything we wanted, but we had each other. I only have very good memories of my childhood. We're all different which made things interesting.
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What is it like having a twin sister? Its nice - she's someone I can always count on. We're not identical and have different personalities so I guess we compliment each other.
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Why did everyone in your family do a degree? My parents valued education and instilled that in us. It was something that we could fall back on and a stepping stone on the career ladder.
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What is the strangest thing you've ever done in your job search? I once sent a tea-bag with my cv in the post and got a reply saying thanks I read your CV whilst drinking my tea.
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Second strangest? I waited outside a company to speak to the MD on his way out. He agreed to see my cv and later offered me the job! But I turned it down as it wasn't what I was after.
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What is your recommendation to finding a job? Research, and using your initiative. Jobs are very competitive and so you need to get noticed.
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Why did you do two Masters? I am fully committed to learning and doing my very best. Being passionate about marketing, I wanted to extend my knowledge and so did the Master in Marketing. A few years later I realised that IT would play a vital role in business and indeed marketing and so did the MSc in Secure Electronic Commerce.
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What made you contact Guinness World Records? It was in 2000, I just wanted to do something special for my parent's 40th wedding anniversary. Education is important to them and I knew this achievement would make them tremendously proud.
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Why did you start your own business? I am very creative. I made mosaic mirrors for friends and family and took it one step further!
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What advice would you give to someone who wanted to quit education to go into Business? I know some people think an academic institution shapes the mind which makes making decisions based on instinct and assumed common sense harder, but I still wouldn't recommend it. Its a good building block and can help formulate ideas based on research, experience and theory. My educational achievements have not stopped me from thinking outside of the box. So, I suggest completing studies first so that you have got something to fall back on. If you can't wait, then do both simultaneously. Work night and day if you have to but don't quit.
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What is AWA about? Fundamentally, its an ethos of working hard, learning new skills and believing in yourself. Working with people who have gone through the system, its about nurturing 'a working attitude' so dreams can come true.