Katy Clark joined the management department of Naylors Gavin Black (formerly Naylors) as a senior surveyor in August 2017, having previously worked for the Newcastle firm between 2011 and 2014. In the intervening years she worked for LSH and Capita Property & Infrastructure.

What was your first job (and how much did it pay)? My first job was babysitting the kids of my former Brown Owl from my Girl Guide (Brownie) days. They were looking for someone reliable and we lived in the same neighbourhood. I was looking to start earning some money and my two elder sisters already had a job, so I put myself forward. At the time, Pop Idol was the show to watch on a Saturday evening so we watched that before putting the kids to bed. I remember getting £20 one night as they were out later than usual, and I was delighted!

What is the best advice or support you’ve been given in business? To be yourself, and you don’t always have to be the loudest voice in the room to be heard. Be patient, keep your head down and you can quietly make yourself indispensable to a business. Once your employer realises the value you bring to the table, the opportunities will come. Try not to react to the pressures of the job, it’s easier to build relationships with people by resolving issues, keeping as positive as possible. Oh, and remember always that there is a solution to every problem.

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What are the main changes you’ve seen in your business/sector, and what are the challenges you’re facing? The main change is the increasing reliance on technology and a key challenge is recruiting from minority groups to create a more diverse workforce.

What would your dream job be? A cast member in one of the Disneyland Florida theme parks, preferably a dancer on the daily parade. I cannot imagine anything better than enjoying the sunshine, joy and happiness every day. I really enjoy being active, so anything away from the desk really which is one of the reasons that I chose surveying as I am out and about a lot.

What advice would you give to someone starting out a career in your sector? I would say that surveying is hard work but the more people that you know, the easier it becomes so my main piece of advice would be to grow your connections from early on – across all levels. Most importantly, enjoy what you do and learn from your mistakes.

What makes the North East a good place to do business? The North East is a fantastic place to live and work, we are an ambitious bunch and we are lucky that we have access to lots of different sectors within a compact radius. It’s friendly, a relatively small market, the people are trustworthy and there’s a comradery that we’re ‘all in it together’.

How important is it for business to play a role in society? Incredibly important. We have recently started working with The Community Foundation which enables people from all walks of life to set up charitable funds, give and share experiences. We do this in various ways including grants and offering our time in our area of expertise with the idea being that we support vital causes across the region.

Outside of work, what are you really good at? I wouldn’t say that I am really good at it, but I love to participate in physical activity at the end of each working day as it helps me switch off and unwind. I was always a regular runner with five marathons under my belt, countless half-marathons and I was a regular pacer for the AJ Bell Great North Run but I’ve recently scaled that back and concentrate more on weight training. Not too impressive for any actual weightlifters reading this but I recently deadlifted 1.5 x my body weight. It was only for one repetition, but it was something that I had to work towards.

Who would play you in a film about your life? I have always been a fan of Goldie Hawn with the 1987 version of Overboard being my favourite movie, she is a bit older than I am though so perhaps I would choose her daughter – the also very talented, Kate Hudson.

Which three people would you invite to a dinner party, and why? Gary Neville, Ruth Jones and Emmeline Pankhurst. Gary Neville is best known for his football punditry and podcasts but he’s also an entrepreneur and has been a property developer since he was 21. I would love to know how he manages to juggle it all. Ruth Jones because I loved the Gavin & Stacey series and I’m currently reading one of her books. I love the way she manages to write with humour but also makes you easily connect so well with the characters. I think she would have a lot of good stories to tell. Emmeline Pankhurst because she’s one of the true historic greats – a female pioneer and a feminist who organised the British suffragette movement against the odds. I have a family full of successful women and have always been told that anything is possible as long as you work for it. I love to listen to passionate women who have broken the mould.