Changing from accountancy to management: One of the things I learnt and had to unlearn in subsequent years was that the business was not about keeping the books but about customers and insurance.

The introduction of computerisation: If you got it right, you released a lot of human potential to things that actually made a difference.

Dealing with change: Using our brands to drive our business forward to work with our customers; how that all works is changing enormously and it requires a lot of energy and project management to get it right.

Women in the workplace: They tend to cope well with many varied demands. You can assume so much responsibility, you can disempower people around you.

Past mistakes: When it came to work, I often would not delegate enough. That is a wrong strategy. It stops people learning and it is an ineffective use of work time.

Providing brokerage services: Costs are increasing. The economic boom in Ireland has had its effect on the cost base.

On gaining a professional qualification: It's never too late. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Education is a continuous process and an important investment for the future.

On being a woman in business: I felt like a fish out of water for most of my working life. However, this has very little to do with gender and stems much more from working in a traditional industry where in the past, mediocrity has too often prevailed and change was what happened in other industries.