KARREN BRADY

The biggest lesson my kids have taught me is to find the joy in little things, along with a healthy dose of patience.

My grandmother had a motto that you should never look down on people unless you are helping them up, and I think that's a very spiritual way of living.

There's only two things that I really care about - apart from family - one is business and the other is women in business.

I live day by day. There's no other way.

Most women who work and have a career and a family sympathise with one another because they know just how difficult it is to try and manage it all and sometimes if the pressure's too great and you can't manage something has to give and it's either your career or your family.

We've got to start making people realise that it's a proud thing to run a business, to export your goods around the country.

Running your own business can be the loneliest job in the world. You are the MD, answer the phone and make tea, handle the invoices and have to make payments on time.

I'm not going to become an MP and I'm not going to be London Mayor. I have no political ambitions.

I mean, I've been in a very male-dominated industry from a very young age.

The brain aneurysm I had in 2006 put things into perspective. It made me understand what was really important - to enjoy life, take more risks and stop putting things off.

As long as you like yourself, as long as your family like you, as long as you are good at what you do, your staff respect you, and your board have trust in you, that's what is important.

The one thing I wanted was independence. And I realised to have that independence, you needed financial independence.

My greatest mistake? I once took a three-day maternity leave. I had my daughter on a Wednesday, and then went back to the office on the Monday to sack a manager.

You take responsibility for your children but you're not always the taxi driver and that doesn't make you a bad parent.

I always wear a suit jacket, a smart blouse or a top, with my hair and make-up done. Under the desk, what no one knows, is that I'm wearing jeans and trainers.

The problems children bring get bigger as they get older.

I didn't really know what I was going to do with my life. I've taken every opportunity, pushed myself in ways I'm not sure I knew were even possible, I've made the best of my life and career. So yes, I do feel proud of myself.

I'm the sort of person who doesn't hear the word 'no' - I hear 'find another way to get what you want.'

I look at people like Helen Mirren, Emma Thompson, Goldie Hawn, they're the people I want to be.

On 'The Apprentice,' I'm 100 per cent certain I'm paid the same as Claude Littner. I insisted on equality when I negotiated my contract. I would not have allowed anything else.

In 'The Apprentice,' they don't re-do shots, it's all one-take. We literally follow the decisions that the candidates make.

I love business and that's why I go on other people's board because it is my hobby. Some people join a tennis club to do things in their spare time. I join boards because that's what I love.

I always laugh when I read about sexism cases in the newspaper.

For clubs, free movement plays a big role in transfers and players' contracts. Players from the E.U. can sign for U.K. clubs without needing a visa or special work permit, making it quicker and easier to secure top talent from across Europe to come and play in our leagues.

Any board executive can forget just how many people helped them get where they are. Those women who have got to the top need actively to ensure there is a pipeline of younger women, whether by networking or mentoring, who in turn are encouraging those below them.