International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day fall in March. Throughout the month, we are celebrating our incredible #NELFTWomen and highlighting the support and opportunities available to them.

Below is an interview with Brid Johnson, Acting Executive Director of Integrated Care for London.

What is the most important piece of advice you have been given? 

Life is too short, make the most of every moment.

Is there anyone that inspires you in your career?

Probably on reflection my inspiration comes from my mother who is 89 years old now and continues to work on a daily basis preparing the business accounts and wages for the employees.  My memory of my mother was multi-tasking while working and raising 4 sweet children! However my task now is to try and enable my mum to stop working and enjoy some retirement

What are you most proud of? 

On a personal note, raising two young daughters alone while continuing to work full-time in the NHS.  I couldn’t have done that without the support and flexibility of colleagues and managers in the teams I worked with.

What did you dream of doing when you were a little girl?

I grew up surrounded by a family business that was open 12 hours a day, 364 days a year therefore quickly decided that working elsewhere was a good option.  My memory of career choices as a child were Teacher, Nun, Nurse.   I quickly choose the nursing route.

If you could have dinner with three inspirational women, dead or alive, who would they be and why?

Mother Teresa of Calcutta

-Clear vision of what she wanted to achive

-Sheer deterimination in taking work forward

-Caring and compassionate

-Inspired others

-Lead by example

-Highly intellectual- took the initiative to prepare hereself for her role including learning about aspects of medicine, learning new languages,, supporting people living in poverty/homelessness

-Inspired others to continue her work

Michelle Obama

-Pressures re juggling motherhood and working

-Her feedback on experiencing imposter syndrome

-Great stories on life in the white house and after

-Her sense of fun

Princess Anne

-Life with mum as a queen

-Raising a family in the spotlight

-Daily work and how she maintains her energy and enthuaism