LAUNCHING: CHRISTINA HALKIOPOULOS

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD?

I wanted to be a newsreader.

WHAT ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU HAVE?

BA Hons French and Spanish from the University of Exeter.

WHAT’S THE BEST CAREER ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN?

Be patient, work hard and have ambition.

WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY?

I have many role models; one that springs to mind is Michelle Obama because I think she has done wonders for female empowerment and voicing the concerns and fears of so many women. We need to educate children, male and female alike, from a very young age about gender equality. Films like Moana or books such as Goodnight stories for Rebel Girls are helping us to move in the right direction in aiding the process but having the likes of Michelle Obama and Emma Watson also raising female empowerment issues help to reach a wider audience.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR CURRENT WORKING ENVIRONMENT?

The best thing about working for Jigsaw is the ethos of the company; it has integrity and good core values. It is also encouraging to see so many females on the board of directors and in senior management positions.

WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT YOUR DAILY WORK ROUTINE IF YOU COULD?

At the moment I do not feel that my work/life balance is compromised or my commute is too long – I would not change anything as it stands.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF PROFESSIONALLY IN FIVE YEARS’ TIME?

In five years’ time I would like to be in a management position.

DO YOU FEEL YOU CAN BE THE SAME PERSON AT WORK AND IN PRIVATE?

Yes, I feel that I can be myself in the workplace. There, of course, is a certain degree of professionalism and sense of calm that one must maintain at work, but that is just a better version of myself.

WHERE AND IN WHAT ROLES ARE WOMEN IN THE LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE AT YOUR COMPANY?

We have several women on the board of directors; in fact, it may even outnumber the number of male directors which is fantastic to see. It is so inspiring to see women in leadership roles and there is plenty of scope for progression within the company.

DOES DIVERSITY MATTER TO YOU?

Absolutely. Diversity is key. We live in a culturally diverse world and this should be reflected in all aspects of human life, including the workplace.

HOW GOOD IS YOUR WORK LIFE BALANCE?

I have no complaints about my work/life balance. We have very workable hours and I always find time to socialise, go to the gym and relax at weekends. Perhaps my only problem is checking work emails outside of the office. Retail is fast-paced and changeable so we need to be reactive, making it difficult to switch off.

WHAT QUALITIES DOES BEING IN YOUR ROLE NECESSITATE?

I need to be able to react to any changes in the industry and trade. This means working under pressure and in limited time constraints. I need to make on the spot decisions and take initiative. My role also requires being creative and innovative. Teamwork and ability to lead are also key.