SPOTLIGHT ON…

VICTORIA HEATH, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

What is your biggest achievement to date, personal or professional?

I am really proud of my current COO role at BET. My career path has been extremely varied, from Marketing Manager in the Charity Sector, to Global Head of Sales in Ethical Investment research. I am acutely aware of the gender imbalance in senior roles as well as the gender pay gap. The number of women in the UK holding senior jobs in the boardrooms of Britain’s biggest companies (FTSE 250) actually fell in 2018 from 38 full time women executives to 30 (FT). I hope where possible to act as a role model for young women, to empower and encourage.

What 3 words would you use to describe your role?

Challenging, busy and a privilege

What is on your wish list for the next five years at BET?

For BET to continue to provide an excellent platform for young people to learn and develop in to being the best that they can be.

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

I am an extremely motivated person. Each day a new opportunity: life is an amazing thing and I want to live each day to the full

How would you describe your day job to a child?

I look after all of the BET schools in all areas non-learning related (IT, premises, grounds, contracts, buildings, health, and safety…). My goal is to ensure everything is running smoothly to act as a stable platform for learning excellence and to support the pupils and staff

What’s your favourite line from a film?

‘Get busy livin’, or get busy dyin’. The Shawshank Redemption

What do you like most about your job?

The opportunity to make a difference, engender positive change and deliver for the children

What’s your personal mantra?

‘Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever’, Mahatma Gandhi

‘If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude’, Maya Angelou