Each week we shine the spotlight on a member of Dorset’s business community and ask him, or her, for answers to our part fun/part serious questionnaire. This time…

She looks for a happy, positive disposition and a real passion to learn in a new employee; would like to share a car with her younger self – just to have a chat – chooses Southbourne as her favourite place in Dorset and selects Batman and Robin as her childhood heroes.

So, with a Batman-style Biff, Pow and Crash, Beverley Poole, Founder and CEO, Aspire4BusinessAcademy and Beverley Poole Consultancy, takes the 20 Questions’ hot seat. 

Question: What is your favourite TV show?

Answer: Well… I don’t tend to watch much TV, but I indulge occasionally in programmes like Planet Earth, Coastal Path, The Crown, First Dates (so funny!). My theme would be places and people. Escapism = Marvel Movies.

Q: Who would you like to share a car with?

A: My younger self. Just to have a chat.

Q: The best bit of my job is…?

A: When people can see real progress in their business planning and if we are hosting an online course, their first sale. Exciting!

Q: And the worst…?

A: Accounts – so I outsourced it.

Q: Who was your childhood hero?

A: Batman and Robin. Biff, Pow, Crash!

Q: What’s your favourite smell?

A: Easy…the earthy smell of my first born 5lb daughter, I waited 40 years for her. Daughter number two arrived a year later.

Q: Where’s your favourite place in Dorset?

A: I love Southbourne. The expanse of the beach and walks, sea and then the night sky. Great cafes and restaurants springing up.

Q: What advice would you give to anyone starting out on a career?

A: Having worked in education between my own business careers I have wide experience here. I would say that unless your family career history is set, medicine and military usually follow, if you aren’t sure, wait. You have your whole life to have as many careers as you like.

Q: What was your first record/CD?

A: Detroit Emeralds – Feel The Need In Me.

Q: What gets you angry?

A: Injustice and lack of equality. We should all work together to our strengths. Fairness always.

Q: Do you have a favourite piece of music?

A: I’ve been around music all of my life and have an opera singer in the making with my daughter. Quite eclectic tastes but love Eric Whitacre, Light and Gold Lux Aurumque played by an orchestra, or ‘Elysium’ by Klaus Badelt and Lisa Gerrard. Both very emotive.

Q: What are the qualities you look for in a new employee?

A: Happy, positive disposition, with a real passion to learn. It’s such a pleasure to develop people.

Q: What’s your favourite food or dish?

A: Warm salads with giant couscous, pine nuts and good dressings. Warm and tasty with a bit of crunch.

Q: Steamed sponge pudding and custard or a plate of melon?

A: This made me laugh. Steamed sponge pudding and pink custard. It reminds me of school where we had a ‘dinner lady’ who forgot to put the sugar in once and we had to eat it…has to have icing and sprinkles through.

Q: Name the best thing about living/working in Dorset?

A: Absolutely being next to the sea, where I grew up. Sitting in the sand dunes with a flask of tea and sandwiches (then, not now!).

Q: If you were Prime Minister for the day what would be the first thing you do?

A: Ahhh! Education as a whole. Yes we have to have measurement and Special needs is both ends of the spectrum ‘Gifted and Talented’ and ‘Learning difficulties’. One size does not fit all and also we need better links with Education, Careers and the Workplace. Gatsby benchmarks help in part, but there needs to be a dedicated careers person, not an extra bit for a teacher to add onto their job…24/8 does not exist. Funding….

Q: What’s your biggest frustration?

A: Equality. I worked in the boardroom as a director of a P&O subsidiary at 31. I even now I can still honestly say there is a long way to go. We need to play to strengths together. We all have something to offer. It’s not a competition. Strengths and skills in equal measures.

Q:  Where’s your favourite holiday location?

A: I adore Italy on the Amalfi coast, but Rock in Cornwall on a sunny day is stunning too.

Q: Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time?

A: Still helping others to achieve and sharing my experiences and wisdom to shape lives. My academy helps people with their business reach and my personal development model gives me great pleasure. No plans to do anything else.

Q: What would you like to be remembered for?

A: Kindness and giving of my time to help others. I asked someone else this, they said ‘for being underated!’

• Picture by Andrew Plant andrewplantphotography.com