1. In your career, what’s the worst advice you’ve ever been given, and why?

You'll never succeed because you have a nice partner at home. I was just 21, working in television having done a degree in Politics at Bristol University, I wanted to work for "On the Record" or a current affairs programme and luckily my manager could make that happen! She used to work in current affairs and knew all the hiring teams. I asked for her help and she gave me some advice I'll never forget, "Jaye, you'll never make it in political programming with your nice boyfriend at home." The gist was that the late nights, the macho culture, a hint about sleeping your way to the top, and the unsavoury characters wasn't going to suit me and I wasn't going to have the grit or graft to get anywhere. This was 2001, so perhaps she was right, times were different then but as the only senior woman at that production company, she was my role model. She was bitter and jaded and I did not want to become her so I left, I gave up my career in television and today that makes me sad. Since then I have felt a responsibility to show up for women, to put the ladder down and to forge a path for female leaders.

2. What’s your biggest ‘Cappuccino Career Cock-up’?

I was leaving uni into the big wide world and the BBC were on the hunt for new presenters. They did a tour of cities in the UK and asked people to do a 5 minute weather report as an audition so I hot footed it up to Birmingham and did my little report. I didn't get through to the top 10 but I was on a shortlist and was invited to meet an Executive Producer in London, who I think was in charge of kids TV. I was a casual kind of girl, didn't wear much make up, dressed in jeans and jumpers but for some reason, still unknown to me today, I decided to go shopping and buy a "TV outfit". Picture low-cut figure hugging dress, full blowdry and makeup at 11am in central London. The builders were very complimentary on my way to the meeting, which should have given me a warning but it was too late. As I walked into the building, it was the look the receptionist gave me that had me suddenly hyper-aware of what I looked like. The interview didn't take long, no joke, the poor man actually recommended that I might be more suitable for something a bit more grown up...in fact he might have even said adult. I've blocked it out to be honest and on my way down to Oxford Street, the builders still showing appreciation, I nipped in to M&S and bought a cardi to hide my assets. So the UK missed out on my jazz hands appearing on screen, although I did have a short lived career in TV production, see point 1!

3. What were your lessons from that? 

Know your audience, but mostly, know yourself. That wasn't me showing up to that interview, that was me pretending to be who I thought they expected to see. Huge mistake but a valuable one.

4. What is the importance of making mistakes when paving your career path?

As a slightly reformed perfectionist I am going to come at this from another angle, the alternative is you make no mistakes which means you don't get out of your comfort zone, you don't try new things and you don't test what the limits are to your skills and potential. So rather than worrying about making mistakes, know that there is no right way, follow your passions, be curious and make time to try new things so that your career has colour and joy.

5. Summary: as a leader, what advice would you ABSOLUTELY NOT give anyone now?

Sit it out for a few years. So many people get stuck in a rut and feel compelled to stay in a toxic workplace because it would be bad for their CV to move. Life is too short, get out and learn from it and perhaps do more due diligence before taking on your next role.