A little bit about me

Over the years I’ve been an ethical entrepreneur. A Channel4 TV presenter. A round-the-world backpacker. An English teacher in Japan. A bus driver in the Aussie outback. A stand-up comic. A best-selling author. And a self-made multi-millionaire.

It’s these experiences that make me the successful businesswoman and inspiring event speaker that I am today.

Successful entrepreneur

To cut a long story short I started up a business from a bedsit and turned it into the world’s biggest gap year travel company. I then sold it to a FTSE 100 company for an eight-figure sum. And I did all that in just 10 years!

I did it fast. I did it differently. I defied the sceptics. And I found a way to make millions while the rest of the travel industry was scraping around looking for the next BIG thing.

Find out more about my mentoring and non-exec roles here

Inspiring speaker

My talks draw upon all that experience to offer real insights into modern business and how to create and maintain success. People tell me that it’s a refreshing change to hear someone who talks genuinely and shares practical insights from their own experience. From somebody who has actually ‘done it’ rather than somebody who has read a lot and talks about it. ‘It’ being real business success.

By the time I’ve finished, audiences are left in no doubt that I know what I am talking about and that they have learnt something practical and positive. I’m a true believer that people learn and remember more from a person’s experience rather than their ‘advice’.

Find out more about my event speaking here

Author and media commentator

My success in business has opened up lots of opportunities in the media. I’m a regular on Jeremy Vine’s Radio 2 show and local BBC stations. I set up a school in Uganda as part of C4’s Millionaire’s Mission. I’ve written a best selling personal development book. Debated with Derek Hatten on BBC’s The Big Questions. And 2011 saw me take on the British gold industry as a journalist and presenter on C4’s Dispatches.

Find out more about my writing and media work here

Ethical at heart

In my experience, the best ethical businesses are remarkably profitable because they offer a unique service to a niche market. You don’t need to be a mung bean eating, Birkenstock-wearing greenie to be part of an ethical enterprise. In fact, having a cause at the heart of your business really helps bring happy customers, creative staff and a great bottom line. It also makes a positive impact on the world outside of the office window.

I still do my bit for the wider community by sitting on three public sector boards and being the official Enterprise Ambassador for both young people in Yorkshire and the University of Leeds.

5 things that you didn’t know about Deirdre

1. I met my American husband, Bryan on the streets of New York and persuaded him to move to Yorkshire – he has never forgiven me.
2. Our two children, Frankie & Ava are named after the Iconic American couple
3. I used to smoke 40 cigarettes a day and gave up 18 years ago – I still get the urge occasionally. I used to drink heavily too, but I never get that urge nowadays.
4. Of all the bizarre countries I’ve travelled through, my favourite country is Greece quickly followed by Ireland – but the craziest is Uzbekistan.
5. I really feel sorry for people with huge egos (and yes that does mean that I sometimes feel sorry for myself).