JANET PARASKEVA

What are your current leadership roles?

• First Civil Service Commissioner
• Chair, Child Maintenance & Enforcement Commission
• Chair, Olympic Lottery Distributor
• NED, Serious Organised Crime Agency

What has been your greatest achievement to date?

Working to secure total disregard of any benefit paid by Government in the calculation of maintenance due to Parents with Care. It is promised for 2010.

Have there been barriers that you've had to overcome personally or professionally?

I didn't have a first degree until I completed an OU BA.

What have been the major transitions on your leadership journey and what helped you through them? e.g. move to a new role, starting a family etc

Starting a family early in my career.
Needing to be prepared to work away from the family Monday to Friday in order to secure the role I wanted.

Was there someone who helped you or inspired you to realise your potential as a leader? How did they help/inspire you?

Yes. Someone called Harold Hayward who pushed me into my first real leadership role as Chair of the British Youth Council when I had no experience nor much knowledge of the organization itself.

Is there one piece of advice that you would give an aspiring leader?

It's only when you don't need to look behind you that you can find the energy and drive you need to lead the change in front of you.

What do you most enjoy about your leadership role(s)?

Being in a position to help change things - to challenge the status quo and to support others in their careers.

What do you think of Ignite?

It's a great idea - we need to make sure we all put time into increasing opportunities for younger women to succeed.

Could your experience help others? Can you inspire others? Would you like to be inspired by new talent?

Read more women in leadership success stories here