Island Influencers

Welcome to today's episode of Island Influencers, Sharon's guest this week is John Shakespeare. John is a 'man of many hats', and if he isn't doing something, he is asleep!

He is Managing Director of property & facilities management consultancy, Gatehouse Management Limited. An enthusiastic and engaging manager and tour guide at Visit Mann Tours (qualified Blue Badge driver) and most recently the role of domestic event fund coordinator for the business agency of the Department for Enterprise.

Listen to John taking Sharon on a bespoke "John Shakespeare entrepreneurial life tour." Sharing his school day stories as a friend of Jeremy Clarkson to building an ice cream van/mobile shop empire (and his colossal VAT bill!), racing rally cars and creating an entire Viking village. John's passion for the Isle of Man and its opportunities is evident.

Here's this week's conversation with John Shakespeare in episode 33 of Island Influencers.

Welcome to the latest episode of Island Influencers. My guest this week is Gail Yeowell, the Owner and Managing Director of Smart HR Solutions Limited (SmartHR).

Since setting up SmartHR in 2010, she has developed a reputation for being an award-winning, leading provider of multi sector HR consultancy, outsourcing and Training Solutions. Gail is a highly experienced HR professional with 25 years' combined HR management consultancy experience.

Gail talks to Sharon about growing up in a hotel, how passionate she is about her business, family, rugby, volunteering and much more.

Here's this week's conversation with Gail Yeowell in episode 32 of Island Influencers.

This week's Island Influencers conversation is with Conor Cummins aka Conrod, motorcycle road racer of TT fame, barista and entrepreneur.

Conor talks frankly (over a delicious cup of coffee) about life on two wheels, learning at a very young age the value of money and how a strong determination has kept him going.

Conor has applied many lessons learnt from his professional motorbike racing to becoming an entrepreneur, opening his coffee shop and pizzeria business. He loves racing bikes, he loves coffee, and he loves pizza - a winning combination!

Here's this week's conversation with Conor Cummins​ in episode 31 of Island Influencers.

Welcome to today's episode of Island Influencers, my guest this week is Howard Parkin, astronomer, teacher and director of the Manx Retirement Association.

Howard has been an astronomer most of his life, inspired by the "Space race" back in the 60s, he has been an avid astronomer and space enthusiast ever since. For many years Howard has been giving talks and lectures on the subject in the Isle of Man, the UK and abroad.

The Manx Retirement Association was formed in 1998; it is a volunteer charitable organisation that has grown steadily. Howard and the team aim to provide a comprehensive range of social and cultural activities for the benefit and enjoyment of retired residents (couples and singles) on the Isle of Man.

Howard shares many fascinating stories with Sharon, including how we literally took the Isle of Man into space.

Here's this week's conversation with Howard Parkin​ in episode 30 of Island Influencers.

Welcome to the latest episode of Island Influencers, my guest this week is Richard Reid, a highly-qualified psychologist, coach and author.

Richard has more than two decades of high-level experience in the corporate world. He works as a trusted advisor to leading public figures and blue-chip organisations around the globe, delivering coaching, workshops and talks.

Gifted at communicating complex ideas in simple, down-to-earth ways for those seeking support in areas such as developing resilience, boosting presence or charisma, and navigating organisational development.

Richard founded his company Pinnacle in 2005, a high-end private therapy clinic based in Mayfair. He is a big advocate of mindfulness and playing Lego with the children, and being active in the fresh air.

Here's this week's conversation with Richard Reid​ in episode 29 of Island Influencers.

This week's Island Influencer is Janna Horsthuis, Managing Director of Robinson's.

Robinson's, established in 1886 as a small market stall has evolved over five generations into one of the Isle of Man's best-known companies. Having taken over from her father, Janna is excited to be taking the family business into the future.

Janna has worked in the business since 2002 and has been involved in all areas over the years. She loves to stay involved in talking to customers, and they treat their team and customers as they wish to be treated themselves.

As the only female director, Janna talks candidly to Sharon about how getting to this position took lots of hard work and dedication. No two days are the same, especially true during COVID. So listen to how she manages her work-life balance whilst raising two boys and how you can learn from your mistakes and give everything a go.

Here's this week's conversation with ​Janna Horsthuis​ in episode 28 of Island Influencers.

Sharon's guest on the Island Influencers podcast this week is Jackie Bridson. Chief Executive of an independent Manx charity, Live at Home. Passionate about providing lots of ways for their members to live happily at home for as long as they can.

They talk openly about growing up in Liverpool, the impact of lockdown and how a girl's weekend on the Isle of Man changed her life and how exercise and golf help with her work-life balance.

Jackie is mum to a teenage daughter and a mad Vizsla dog called Biscuit, has a love of travelling and campervans, and her current hero is Juergen Klopp.

Here's this week's conversation with Jackie Bridson in episode 27 of Island Influencers.

Welcome to the latest new episode of Island Influencers, where Sharon's guest this week is Rachel Glover an experienced molecular and computational biologist.

Rachel's expertise is in molecular ecology, biosurveillance, bioinformatics and genomics. Rachel is the founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Taxa Genomics, an environmental and veterinary genomics company.

Rachel has been instrumental in the setting up and running of the Isle of Man COVID19 test facility, playing a vital part in monitoring and combating the virus.

Rachel is also a competitive target rifle shooter who has represented the Isle of Man at two Commonwealth Games, as well as competed for Great Britain.

Here's my conversation with Rachel Glover in episode 26 of Island Influencers.

This week's Island Influencers guest is Gill Marples.

After realising her beauty therapy aspiration wasn't the path for her, Gill ultimately started her career in financial services working for a large Insurance Group in the UK. She has worked in the Isle of Man insurance sectors for well over 20 years managing compliance and operation departments.

She's now a director and head of IntegraLife International Limited, who are the life company behind Transact, one of the largest UK platforms.

Gill's also a board member of Finance Isle of Man and current president of the Isle of Man Insurance Institute.

Here's my conversation with Gill Marples in episode 25 of Island Influencers.

My guests this week need little introduction. They are husband and wife team Pippa and Miles Pettit of Noa Bakehouse.

Noa Bakehouse is the sourdough baking, pastry shaping, doughnut filling, flat white slinging, coffee roasting, pizza stretching, local living, community loving bakers based in an old furniture warehouse in the centre of Douglas.

I hope you enjoy listening to how they've come to set up their fabulous bakery business and hear all about their path to fulfilment of a great work-life balance.