10QUESTIONS with Melanie Christie

Our 10QUESTIONS feature asks members of the Freshfield community ten questions about their working life. Featuring client partners, colleagues and FF friends, our guests share some personal stories, views and fresh words of wisdom.

Our latest guest Melanie Christie, director UK Regions at ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales) and friend of Freshfield shares some fresh words of wisdom on how to achieve a healthy work/life balance, and more.

1. How do you like to start your working day?

I can’t do anything before I’ve had two cups of tea, good strong Yorkshire tea that is!

I will catch BBC Breakfast News while making my first cup then settle down at my desk with the second to check emails and get on with the task in hand or dial into my first meeting.

2. Where and how do you come up with your best ideas?

Ideas tend to pop into my head when I’m driving, particularly on a long drive to or following a meeting.

I often call one of my team and say ‘I’ve been thinking…’, a phrase they have come to dread!

3. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Be your authentic self.

If you’re not people will notice, and you won’t come across as credible.

4. What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership is about inspiring and motivating others to achieve common goals while fostering a positive and productive work environment. Leaders must demonstrate integrity, empathy, resilience and be ultimately accountable.

It’s also important to empower others and foster a collaborative environment to ensure collective success.

5. What’s your top tip for achieving a work-life balance?

When your workday ends, make a conscious effort to stop working and disconnect from work-related emails, calls and messages.

It’s very tempting to take a quick look at your emails in the evening or over the weekend, but if you do that you will never really switch off.

I am guilty of taking a sneak peek at emails out of hours though!

6. Which current or historical business figure do you most admire and why?

I admire ICAEW’s recently retired CEO, Michael Izza. Michael was CEO for over 17 years and led the organisation from what was a relatively small professional body in the UK to a leading international accountancy body with over 180,000 members.

He’s also championed sustainability and the important role that accountants play in this global issue.

7. What is your most trusted source of news?

BBC News, but I also tend to speak to close colleagues and contacts, it always pays to have your ear to the ground.

8. What is your favourite brand and why?

I don’t particularly have one favourite brand, but I do love Booths Supermarkets.

They have built a strong and credible brand over many years, and they stick by their vision and mission to sell the best food and drink from local suppliers.

9. What’s the most recent new skill you have learnt?

I’m learning to be a keen gardener.

Last year we bought an old cottage which dates back to the 1800s, with a beautiful garden. It’s a fabulous space, but it does take rather a lot of work to keep it that way!

10. We all use them… what management jargon phrase do you use the most?

I can’t say I particularly like any of them, but I guess I do say ‘we all need to be on the same page’ quite often.

And of course, ‘I’ve been thinking…’