1. When you first joined Amplicon, was it your plan to take full control eventually or did that idea develop over time?

In the initial three to six months, I was just busy learning the business, but it came to me quickly that I could do well here and my initial goal was to get on the board. Within 18 months, I knew that I wanted to own the place and once I got onto the board, I knew that I could do it.

2. What trade shows are you planning on attending this year, and how do you make the decision of which to attend?

It is unlikely that we will exhibit this year. We have done a lot of shows in the past two years mostly in the security field because we launched our security division and we were not well known in that field. Exhibitions have always been a questionable RoI. The only problem of not going is that people think you may have gone out of business, but that is probably a rumour started by exhibition marketing people. This year we will concentrate on web marketing. We do visit trade shows but again there has to be a business case because it can be expensive with travel, hotels, time out of the office and so on. But you do need to go to some to know what is new out there.

3. Late last year, you signed a distribution deal with Taiwanese firm QNap. Why have you entered the network-attached storage market?

We felt it was one of those areas where there was a lot of interest from our customers. It looked a good add-on to our security division and meant we could offer our industrial customers something they wouldn’t normally get from an industrial electronics provider. It means we are closer to being able to offer a total solution for our customers.

4. There is a growing number of young unemployed people in Britain. What can the electronics industry do to help?

There are nearly a million 16 to 24 year olds that will be confined to continual long-term unemployment unless we do something. I think companies of our size could easily take on one of them as an apprentice. The salaries are quite low and they do provide value for money. I have taken one young girl off the unemployment register and I am putting her through an NVQ. If that is successful, then I will do more. I urge all business owners to look into their hearts and find a place for one person. That’s all we all need to do. It is too frightening to leave all these people to become long-term unemployed. We can all find a space for one and do long-term good.

5. The electronics industry, especially in the higher levels, is very male dominated. How hard have you found it as a woman to rise through the ranks?

If you are hungry enough, you will get there. I first went into the workplace in 1976 when people could still ask you your marital status. I lost promotions because I was of childbearing age. There is still prejudice, but not as much, but as long as women bear children they will always be discriminated against. Also, men can be frightened of powerful or successful women. You have to be smart and you have to be driven and you have to give it 100 per cent. A lot of women do not do that because they see their careers as their family, and we should value that. The price I paid was that I am not married and I don’t have children. If a woman is good, she deserves the breaks, but it has to be on merit.

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