LAUNCHING:
SUZE HEMMING
Company:
Thea Chops Books
THE BIG QUESTIONS
WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSIONAL TITLE?
Author / Publisher
WHAT DO YOU DO ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS?
Every day is so different which I love. I could be working on a new story, discussing illustrations or design, marketing, sales, admin, reading in a school, networking! There’s always so much to do when you’re running a one woman business!
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD AND WHAT CHANGED?
Oh gosh so many things! For a while I wanted to be a dentist. Then I went through the early teens, shall I be a pop star phase! I did engineering at university thinking I would be an engineer as I loved maths and physics, but eventually I worked in the TV and film industry in production.
WHAT ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU HAVE?
BEng (Hons) in Integrated Engineering
WHAT’S THE BEST CAREER ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN?
You’ll only every regret not having tried.
WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY?
I never really had a role model. There are so many amazing women out there to feel inspired by, and you discover new ones all the time!
WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR CURRENT WORKING ENVIRONMENT?
I wanted to create work that works for me and my family. The hours in the film and TV industry are crazy, and it was really important for me to be able to take my daughter to and from school, and be part of her school community. Working for myself in this way allows me the flexibility I need. And to be doing something that is such a passion, is most definitely the icing on the cake!
WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT YOUR DAILY WORK ROUTINE IF YOU COULD?
If I could make the school day a bit longer I would: sometimes I just can’t get everything done by 3pm!
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF PROFESSIONALLY IN FIVE YEARS’ TIME?
Hopefully as a successful author having published more books, and continuing to play a role in encouraging a change towards greater gender equality.
DO YOU FEEL YOU CAN BE THE SAME PERSON AT WORK AND IN PRIVATE?
Well I work largely at home on my own so yes! But seriously, I think I am a bit different, the sales and face to face aspect of being a small business and author who does readings, pushes me out of my comfort zone. I’m a bit of a shy soul really (though most people don’t believe me when I say that! I think I’m an extroverted introvert). So the networking, sales, public speaking isn’t really who I am, but I do it because my work requires it. Not many of us like challenge, but it is good to step out of that comfort zone once in a while!
WHERE AND IN WHAT ROLES ARE WOMEN IN THE LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE AT YOUR COMPANY?
Well there’s me! Who knows how Thea Chops Books will grow over the next few years…..? Watch this space I guess!
DOES DIVERSITY MATTER TO YOU?
I think it should matter to everyone. We live in a diverse world, my daughter is growing up in a diverse city, and we can all be so much more connected to each other now, globally. We tell our daughter that first and foremost we’re all human beings.
HOW GOOD IS YOUR WORK LIFE BALANCE?
Pretty good at the moment - I manage to make most things fit in within the school day. I sometimes do things in the evenings or at weekends, but that time is family time so I try not to do too much.
WHAT QUALITIES DOES BEING IN YOUR ROLE NECESSITATE?
Being creative, organised, and brave. Putting something you’ve created out into the world for people to critique is hard to do!
ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
Gender equality starts in childhood: let’s make the world a better place for future generations. We didn’t come this far to only come this far.