Although I didn’t realise at the time, studying as a linguist paved the way for a career in brand design, deepening my love of language, fostering cultural sensitivity and ensuring that I learnt to adapt and listen carefully. The transition that followed took me into advertising and then design, where I met my future business partners, and in 1992 we co-founded Pearlfisher. The image of the brave Japanese ‘Ama' women, diving deep for pearls captured our imagination and still inspires us today, over 30 years later, as we design the desirable brands of the future.My own journey has been interlinked with Pearlfisher’s, and I have benefited from the experiences that are unique to the Founder of a business. It’s a journey of many stages and discoveries, from the initial start-up phase, through to the expansion into new locations and disciplines, becoming a multi-studio organisation, into to the next chapter of growth, under the leadership of our newly appointed Global CEO.Our strong creative, ethical principles and values have always been a guiding light. At its heart is a core belief in ground-breaking design as a force for good, and the power of a highly collaborative, independent culture that values the role of individuality within a collective.An unexpected career highlight has been the 12 years living and working in New York, leading our US business, as we transformed from a small satellite studio to a fully-fledged US design firm. This first-hand US experience has been invaluable and set me up for my current role as Group Chairman, where I can focus my energies on Pearlfisher’s future direction and the fundamental aspects that will shape our growth and impact in the coming years. So much has changed in 30 years, yet some things haven’t. I remain inherently optimistic, idealistic thoughtful, pragmatic, commercial and even-handed - I can be the voice of reason in the room and will always look for the ‘win-win’ outcome. I continue to be driven by a desire to be part of a ground-breaking agency that changes the lives of people and brands in ways they might never have expected. In addition, whilst I may not have realised my teenage ambition to become an interpreter at the UN, the art of interpreting remains my core skill!