Caroline Frost, Director of Learning and Development, Informa Business Information, London
What was your first job out of college and how did you get into this business?
Immediately out of university I was accepted as a volunteer overseas with VSO (the U.K. version of Peace Corps). I was posted to Papua New Guinea to teach English… and remained there in the middle of the jungle for the next five years.
Has there been a defining moment in your career? Perhaps when you knew you were on the right road.
There have been a few peak successes along the way, but it’s my nature to be always evaluating whether I’m on the right road!
In brief, describe your business/company?
I work for Informa Business Information, in the U.K. We provide essential business information and data to decision makers across a range of verticals, from shipping and freight to pharmaceuticals and law.
What are two or three important concepts or rules that have helped you to succeed in business?
– Always show up and be willing, if not downright enthusiastic, to do your very best in all situations;
– Pick your battles (I haven’t always been good at this one, but when I remember it, it helps);
– When in doubt, ask for help… there are always people around who know more—and they are usually happy to help.
What is the single-most successful thing that your company is doing now?
Products that are so embedded in people’s workflow that subscription renewal is not an issue. And on the employee engagement/retention front, volunteer programmes for staff seem to be hitting the spot.
Do you see a trend or path that you have to lock onto for 2011?
For me in the area of learning and development, it’s twofold: demonstrating value from L&D; and the area of online/virtual/distant learning for us as a global company.
What are the key benefits of SIPA membership for you and your team?
Networking, finding out what other companies are doing, understanding new models and ideas and how we could apply them. I remember the first SIPA conference I went to, and I was bowled over by the amount of intelligence (in every sense) in the room.
Where did you grow up?
On the south coast of England, near the sea, in Dorset.
What college did you attend? Is there a moment from that time that stands out?
University College Cardiff. Much of it was a blur, I confess.
Are you married? Do you have children?
Yes married, no children. Many nieces and a very demanding cat.
What is your favorite hobby and how did it develop in your life?
At the moment, ceramics is high on my list. I have been making rather poor pots with great enthusiasm (yes, a theme!) at weekly evening classes for 12 years. I have found it formative for my temperament as I’m naturally an activist, a bit impatient and competitive. Working with clay has taught me that these qualities don’t actually foster the creative process. For me it’s like a practical meditation and I get to focus on one thing, with not much conversation or distraction for a couple of hours. So it’s a welcome contrast to my daily work life.
Is there a book you recently read or movie you saw that you would recommend?
I am currently re-reading [Stephen] Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” which is just excellent, as always. The only contemporary novels that have really impressed me in the last couple of years are “The Poisonwood Bible” and “The Corrections,” both of which I would recommend to anyone.
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Join Caroline and hundreds of industry stalwarts
at SIPA 2011, June 5-7, at the
Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C.
There’s still time to register!
Caroline will be leading the roundtable,
Training as a Means to Staff Engagement,
on Monday, June 6. It promises to be one of
several great roundtables at SIPA 2011!
This is a conference that you cannot afford to miss!
Sign up now!
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