Event Overview: An Evening with Suzanne Heywood

On 20 February, the Women’s Network hosted an evening with Suzanne, Baroness Heywood, followed by a drinks reception hosted by the College President. We had invited Suzanne for an interview and audience discussion on resilience and how she overcame a very unusual and difficult childhood to achieve academic success and a stellar business career.

For a decade from the age of seven, Suzanne accompanied her family on a voyage around the world on a small schooner. Although the voyage gave her early insights to many countries and cultures, her autobiography 'Wavewalker: Breaking Free' also recounts extreme hardship and deprivation. As the family was often short of cash, Suzanne was required to work as a crew member as her parents took paying passengers, often below deck in the galley, while her brother had more freedom and on -deck activities.

She described her stress regarding her lack of access to education, and the difficulties of learning by correspondence, as her father often changed course from agreed destinations to which her tutor had sent her work and learning materials. Suzanne’s childhood was one of extreme social isolation, with minimal peer contact and friends during her formative years that was exacerbated by challenging family dynamics. However, Suzanne emerged from the fear and discomfort of protracted storms and the terror of shipwreck and injury to become highly resilient and resourceful. She navigated her way to Oxford, and later a doctorate as well as publishing several books.

As well as raising a family of three children. Suzanne has had a highly successful business leader. After an early career in the Treasury, she went on to become a senior partner at McKinsey and is currently COO of the Exor Group, she chairs Case New Holland Industrial and the Iveco Group, and serves on the board of the Economist and Christian Louboutin.

Suzanne spoke openly about dealing with difficult families, poverty and hardship, with a clear and positive message that determination and application provide the keys to achieving our life and career goals, no matter what adversity we may encounter.

If you were unable to attend the event, you can view a video of the interview here and read more about Suzanne on her webpage: suzanneheywood.com