Spotlight on Elizabeth Pearce
Chair of IoD Suffolk and Part Owner of Omega Ingredients
Elizabeth, who recently became Chair of IoD Suffolk, has had a very varied career, but every avenue has helped her to develop the leadership skills she has today.
She graduated in 1979 and started out as a Packaging Consultant before taking a break to start her family. She then held roles as Trade Association Secretary, Internal Auditor and Lead Assessor in Quality Management, before finally taking a position running an SME. Intrigued by how companies’ function, Elizabeth also completed an MBA at Nottingham Trent University.
All these different experiences and the MBA provided a great foundation for her involvement in Omega Ingredients. Although helping to establish a small business is a very exciting thing to do, she regarded her sound knowledge of how a business should function to be an essential skill.
As the company grew, it was agreed that whatever aspect of the business, best practice would always be built-in at every opportunity. Elizabeth’s membership of the IoD really helped her with this, especially when it came to identifying and appointing Non-Executive Directors to the Board, and other areas of Governance.
One of Elizabeth’s biggest challenges in life was having three children under three; she was told she was having twins one week before they were born! However, all survived, and there is no-one prouder of her three brilliant and successful daughters.
Describe yourself in three words? Focused, strong and caring.
What was your first job? Packaging Assistant at Great Universal Stores.
What frustrates you? People who say they will do things and then don’t!
How do you spend your leisure time? Walking, reading, cinema, theatre, horse riding, Pilates, travel, being by the sea.
What’s your favourite television programme? Australian MasterChef.
What’s your favourite food? Italian.
What food do you hate? Offal and truffle oil.
What is your biggest weakness? My beautiful daughters. I would do anything for them.
Where are you happiest? With my family.
What was the first record you bought? Possibly the Osmonds?
At school, what were you good at? Maths and Biology.
What one material thing could you not do without? My home, it is a very familiar and tranquil place.
You’d go to a fancy-dress party as? Cruella De Ville – and I have!
How many attempts before you passed your driving test? Passed first time.
