Each week Bristol Business News gives a prominent member of the city’s business community the last word on its weekly e-bulletin.
This week Louisa Pharoah, development director at ss Great Britain Trust – currently fundraising for Being Brunel, a major project to put ss Great Britain on the map as a national Brunel hub – answers our 10 questions.
What was the LAST: 
Film you watched? My last cinema trip was to see the Disney/Pixar movie Inside Out, which was supposed to be for my children, but, if anything, I loved it more than them. The idea of exploring the world inside a child’s head is bound to touch a chord with all parents. The last ‘grown up’ film I saw was Gone Girl – the film version of the best-selling book, which was pure Friday night entertainment: gripping in parts but ultimately a bit silly.
Book you read? With all the recent furore over ‘Go Set a Watchman I realised that I had never read To Kill a Mockingbird so I devoured it over one weekend. I always have a few on-the-go books around the house; at the moment they include Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Hilary Clinton’s Hard Choices’and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun. An inspiring group of women!
Music you bought/downloaded? I’m currently listening to John Grant’s third solo album, Grey Tickles, Black Pressure. He’s a fascinating, funny, soulful singer and is also an incredible showman – I saw him at Colston Hall earlier this year and have just booked tickets to see him at the Royal Albert Hall next year.
Concert or play you went to? Last week I went to see The Crucible at Bristol Old Vic. We had seats on the stage, which was a novel idea, and were gripped by the intense performance. But it was very long – 3½ hours!
Sporting event you attended? I rarely go to sporting events, but I do stand in a muddy field and watch my 10-year-old play football most weekends. Does that count?
Holiday I went on? We go on a family holiday to the Algarve every summer and this year we added on a two-city break to Lisbon and then Porto, staying in Airbnb apartments. We had a fabulous time exploring these cities with tram rides, port tasting, boat trips and playing lots of card games. In Lisbon we visited the Time Out Mercado da Ribeira – a brilliant restaurant concept, converted from a historic fish market – and thought that Bristol needs one exactly like it.
Restaurant you ate in? I had an amazing meal – and fantastic cocktails – at The Ethicurean recently. We’ve got friends in Taunton and it’s a good place to meet. All the food there is seasonal, local, tastes amazing and is inventive. A great combination!
Thing that annoyed you? Trying to leave the house this morning and get my children to school on time, with clean teeth and their PE kit. Sometimes it’s the simplest things…
Piece of good advice you were given? My aforementioned 10-year-old said something the other evening which made me laugh and I thought it was good advice that could be used in any sphere of business. When he was reaching for his third bowl of pasta and we were expressing incredulity at his ability to eat such quantities, he said: “When I reach my limit, I just set a new one and aim for that!”
More seriously though, as a recent fundraising directors’ forum, we heard some really interesting discussions about leadership and also what we can learn from the habits of geese. For example, when geese fly in formation they honk to encourage those in front to keep up with the formation. And what we can learn from that is that in a team where there is a common goal and encouragement, the production is greater. Lack of encouragement is one of the main reasons that employees are unsatisfied at work. (If you Google geese and leadership you will find a plethora of interesting information).
Thing that made you laugh out loud? We had a dinner on board the ss Great Britain last week, with colleagues and staff from another museum, and we had a real blast. It reminded us that we need to get out more with each other for social events.
Louisa is director of development and acting director of marketing and commerce at the ss Great Britain Trust, which is behind Being Brunel, a venture that will include a new public museum and visitor experience alongside the ss Great Britain. The Trust recently held its first Being Brunel Corporate Club event – an ‘after hours’ experience on board the ss Great Britain for businesses backing the project. Louisa joined the Trust in April 2014 with 14 years of fundraising experience. Prior to the ss Great Britain, Louisa worked for a small start-up charity where she grew its fundraising income stream from scratch and, beforehand, worked for eight years for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity where she played a key role in developing its major donor income. Louisa lives in Bristol with her family. She is an enthusiastic gardener and keen traveller.
