What inspires you?
The way participating in the arts on any level can give people so much social and spiritual nourishment and on a personal level the joy of collaborating with others.
Which leadership development programme did you attend?
LDD, LDD+, Sync 20
Why did you choose the programme?
Interested in finding out more about leadership and what it might mean to me, and in networking with other people in a similar situation.
How do you relax?
Cooking, making stuff, growing veg and chilling out with my family.
What single thing would improve the quality of your work-life?
More time.
What is your greatest fear?
Personally something bad happening to my kids. Not sure I have serious work fears… maybe I should?
What pearl of leadership wisdom would you offer an emerging leader?
Be yourself and find a way to lead through that. The power of authenticity is irresistible.
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Fashion magazines and Sponge Bob Squarepants.
What words or phases do you most overuse?
We are where we are….
What has been your most challenging situation as a leader?
Becoming Chair of the ACE Disabled Workers Group only a year after joining up. It’s an influential role but with no official status in hierarchical terms.
What did you learn from that experience?
Power and influence aren’t conditioned by hierarchy, and things can be made to happen through other means.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Making art collaboratively in the natural environment with a group of like minded people.
Which book(s) are you reading at the moment?
Alice Waters’ The Little Stranger.
Which 'leader' from the past or present day do you most admire and why?
Shami Chakrabarti because she embodies what she stands for, is articulate and persuasive, angry when necessary, but has a sense of fun too.
Where would you like to live?
Where I live now.
Did you experience any eureka! moments during your leadership development programme? If yes, what?
When we were asked to write a personal manifesto I said factiously “Not needing to fit in” and then realised it was in fact true….
What is your favourite smell?
Just picked tomato
If you were a super hero, what would your power be?
A secret ray to expose liars
Have you found your leadership development beneficial?
Yes
Why?
I’ve become more confident in myself and my own powers.
For what cause would you die?
To save my children from harm
What do you consider to be your greatest (professional or personal) achievement?
To keep learning new things and stay flexible.
What has been your most embarrassing moment?
Can’t think about it.
What would your 'leadership' motto be?
Get on with it.
If you were stranded on a desert island what 5 things would you want with you?
A knife, lots of string, sun tan lotion, an infinite supply of sketch books and pencils.
What is your favourite song?
Too hard to choose
What keeps you awake at night?
The World Service.
What is the most important lesson life has taught you so far?
Planning is of limited value.
Do you plan to do more leadership development? If yes, what area do you plan to focus on?
Interested in coaching and people development, and in finding my own route through. Have just signed on for Leadership Unleashed.
Name: Stephanie Fuller
Title: Head of Development
Organisation: Arts Council England, South East
Location: Brighton
Arts funding and development.
