I Love Building Sites - But It’s All Relative To Me
City A.M., 12th September 2007Job of the Week
Bernadette Cunningham, Director, Thornsett
Keeping it in the family, Bernadette Cunningham is a director of Thornsett Group, a property development company founded by her uncles, Gerard and Denis, in 1985. Before joining in 2001 - after a period of reflection brought on by a broken leg and a heart to heart with her uncles - the 36-year-old had worked in public relations, advertising and investor relations. Cunningham lives in Bethnal Green, East London.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I never had any idea. I was never the type of kid who would say I want to be a ballerina or a doctor. I ended up falling into things rather than via driving ambition. I’m not ambitious, but my natural personality trait is to take lead - other people might call that being bossy! My mum tells me how even at nursery I would tell the other children what to do.
Who or what has been the biggest influence in your career?
My big Irish family. Like a lot of Irish families, they came over in the 1960s and built up their own business.
Where did you get your passion for property development?
As a child I remember hanging around building sites, so it’s part of my life. Unlike other jobs it’s very tangible, something you can actually show to people.
Which two qualities have helped you get ahead?
I’ve got a really good brain! It just seems to work well, I’m good with words and numbers and at communicating, which is handy when it comes to negotiating deals. I also have the ability to juggle a lot of things without getting stressed.
What has been the biggest challenge of your career?
I’m not sure that I’ve faced my biggest challenge. It was a challenge to leave South Africa. After living there for seven years between 1993 and 2000 I’d seen so many changes. I was faced with coming back to London without a job, but it turned around when I was offered a job as a head-hunter.
What have been the really low points?
While in South Africa, I left a job I loved to go to another for the money. When I realised my mistake, I couldn’t go back. The first job was in advertising and I loved the people I worked with - we used to get in early just to chat to each other. The next was in investor relations; I learned that money wasn’t everything. It was the catalyst for coming back to London. My sister was also having her first baby and I didn’t want to miss that.
What’s a typical working day?
Because it’s a smallish company, you have a great deal of scope to be involved in lots of different areas. There are about 25 people in our Clerkenwell offices and I’m related to most of them. What’s nice is everyone has a shared sense of purpose and no one takes themselves too seriously. I found it difficult when I was working in a huge firm for faceless shareholders - this feels more natural and rewarding.
Do you achieve a work/life balance?
We don’t have a culture of working late. Every so often I might take work home, but that’s usually stuff to read which I can’t do in the office. I also play the piano and have lessons every Wednesday. In the evenings I’m usually out with friends. Despite working with my family, we see a lot of each other too. Being Irish there’s that ingrained love of socialising!
What are your ambitions for the next five years?
I’m really happy doing what I’m doing. I don’t see work as the be-all-and-end-all - I toy with going back to study or building houses in Africa. I follow opportunities as they present themselves.
What’s one thing not many people know about you?
That I was born and bred in East London. I’m a true Cockney, but I hide it very well. Because I lived in South Africa I have a mixed accent and people make a lot of assumptions. It’s funny I’ve ended up living in my old manor!
By Kala Paul-Worika