What inspires you?
People who say ‘yes’
How do you relax?
Wine and walking – not necessarily together!
What single thing would improve the quality of your work-life?
Teleportation – I spend far too much time on trains
What is your greatest fear?
Any lasting harm coming to my daughter
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Reading the Guardian over the breakfast table when I should be writing that next report….
What words or phases do you most overuse?
‘Actually’ and ‘in the deep doo doo‘ (acknowledgements to Bernard Ross)
What has been your most challenging situation as a leader?
Getting on the wrong side of a senior politician
What did you learn from that experience?
`To concentrate on the issue, give it enough time and try to get into their skin/ inhabit their point of view
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Foie Gras and trumpets would fit my bill too
Which book(s) are you reading at the moment?
The Story of an American (Sir Hustvedt), Peeling the Onion (Gunter Grass) and Lend me Your Ears - all you need to know about speeches and presentations (Max Atkinson)
Which 'leader' from the past or present day do you most admire and why?
Millicant Fawcett – for making a real difference to women’s lives and Nelson Mandela for never giving up, being able to hold the image of a different future, the ability to forgive and brilliant statesmanship
Where would you like to live?
Where I live now in rural Somerset, but with a little less rain……
What is your favourite smell?
Cowslips
If you were a super hero, what would your power be?
Telepathy
For what cause would you die?
Not for an abstract cause, but for some special people
What do you consider to be your greatest (professional or personal) achievement?
Being part of the team at the British Film Institute which established media studies as a serious discipline – oh yes it is!
What has been your most embarrassing moment?
My Carousel slide projector jamming terminally about a third of the way through a presentation at the Royal Academy – pre PowerPoint days, of course.
If you were stranded on a desert island what 5 things would you want with you?
A photo of my partner and daughter, a penknife, pencils, books – and glasses
Name: Sue Isherwood
Title: Director of Leading Learning Programme
Organisation: National Culture Forum
Location: Nationwide
Represents and supports public sector professionals in the culture & leisure field.
