Nicola and I first met virtually when she signed up to my online RenewYou coaching.
Nicola is an amazing woman and has certainly lived a very full life. Like many people the last 18 months of pandemic has prompted her to audit both her personal and professional life.
Jane: Can I ask a little about the young Nicola? Where did you grow up? What did you think you’d do ‘when you grew up?”
Nicola: In suburban Manchester in the 70s and 80s which was a tough time economically for the City.
I always enjoyed writing stories and poems in my author’s book at school. My parents wanted me to be a doctor. I read Microbiology at University but decided to be a journalist once I left uni and moved to London.
Whatever Happened to Sid?
Do you remember what your very first job was? How much did you earn? Did you take any life lessons from that that still resonate with you?
My first job was as a trainee financial journalist for a telephone-based share information line, BT Citycall. This was at a time of many popular share sales of UK public assets such as the water industry and gas. You may remember the “Tell Sid”, marketing campaign from the government for the privatisation of British Gas.
Is there a person in public life that holds your admiration now? And why?
Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert, one of the lead people in creating the Oxford Astra Zeneca Covid vaccine. What an extraordinary gift to the world to provide a not-for-profit vaccine in a pandemic. She appears to combine intellectual excellence with modesty and manages to do this and also be a mother to triplets! (Crikey, I didn’t know about the triplets…)
Double Discrimination
In my interview with Dr Dihanne Rhiney we talked about the double discrimination that black women face: one by being female, and two for being black. You and I have talked about the trope of ‘The Angry Black Woman’. What impact has that had on you and your life choices?
I have been fortunate to have been self-employed for much of my working life so have not had to deal with some of the negativity that people face in a corporate office-based environment.
It is inevitable that as more diverse voices are being heard some people will feel challenged and react accordingly. I try to always be positive, confident and have all the facts at my fingertips. I like Michelle Obama’s quote “When they go low, we go high”.
Life Challenges
What do you consider your greatest achievement to date?
Bringing up my two boys as a single parent to be well adjusted, healthy and happy young men.
What has been your biggest challenge in life and how did you deal with it?
The surprise death of my husband and my sons’ father when they were aged just 4 and 1. I was fortunate to have great support from my mum and some very dear old friends who continue to be active in our lives. I have also kept busy with various paid and voluntary projects.
If you could make one new law to improve life in the UK, what would it be (you can also get rid of something, too!)
Remove anonymity from the internet in the hope that trolling and child abuse will decrease. (I love this.)
Podcasting
You have just started podcasting. How did that come about?
Early in my career I was a radio journalist on LBC. After teaching at City University’s Journalism school a few years ago I wrote a book, “How to Report Economic News”. It is a guide to the contemporary economic landscape aimed at the general public. I thought it might lend itself to a podcast and so I approached Intelligence Squared with a proposal.
What Can People Expect From Your Podcast?
In each 15 minute episode I break down some of the complex economic terms and concepts that we read and hear about in the media with the help of a diverse range of economic experts. Topics include the changing nature of the labour market and how gender intersects with the economy.
What do you most enjoy about it?
I like the accessibility of podcasts. Their popularity has grown massively during the pandemic. I think it is important that people understand how economics impacts all our lives.
Advice for Young Women
What advice would you give to any young woman starting out on a career today?
Keep adding to your skill set, be flexible, build and maintain a large professional network of people across different disciplines. Be kind.
And finally, what is next for you? How do you see this next phase of your life?
I have learnt not to have too many fixed plans as life tends to get in the way and blow you off course. However, helped by your RenewYou course I am aiming to achieve a better balance between the various aspects of my personal and professional life. I look forward to travelling again when restrictions are eased more widely.
Professionally, although it is early days, I think I would like to do more podcasting.
Nicola, thank you so much. The podcast is so interesting; I hope it goes from strength to strength.
You can listen to It’s The Economy podcasts on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Acast, Google podcasts and RSS. You can also contact Nicola at nicola@nicolawalton.com.
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RenewYou has helped thousands of women make positive and lasting change in their lives. I deliver it one-to-one as part of a bespoke coaching package for women looking to move into leadership, to progress their career, or who wish to be the absolute best version of themselves.
Posted on September 2nd, 2021 by Jane
