LeasePlan’s Lesley Slater answers Barker’s Dozen

12 May, 2008

1. What was your first job? When I was at school I worked in a bakery at weekends and during the holidays.

2. What was your first company car? My very first company car was a Rover 214Si in British Racing Green. Unfortunately, I didn’t have too much of a chance to get to know it very well – less than 24 hours after I got it, I had an unfortunate incident involving a car park post.

3. What did you listen to on your last car journey? The breakfast show on Radio 5 Live with Nicky Campbell and Sheila Fogarty.

4. What one thing do you wish you could do better? Sing – when my children were babies they used to pretend to be asleep so I would stop.

5. What’s your biggest achievement? I’m not a fan of flying at all, so going up in a plane without doors was a bit of an achievement. Jumping out of it with a parachute strapped to my back was an even bigger feat.

6. Who are your role models? Karren Brady (MD of Birmingham FC) and Kylie Minogue.

7. What’s the stupidest thing you’ve done? Agreeing to do a parachute jump from a plane without doors when I am scared of flying.

8. What was the most hotly debated topic at your last meeting? Who would win the special categories at our annual sales awards. There are so many deserving nominations but we needed to choose just two winners.

9. What’s in your garage? No idea as it’s my husband’s domain, but there’s no room for cars.

10. What’s the worst thing about your job? I love everything apart from the M25 which stands between me and my job every day!

11. What one law would you make or change? I would rather see the laws relating to mobile phone use in cars better enforced before making any new ones.

12. What keeps you awake at night? Nothing - I sleep like the exhausted (because I am.)

13. Who is your ideal celebrity date? Gordon Ramsey to cook, Peter Jones for good conversation over dinner and David Beckham for later!