Sheila Dean is CEO of the Equiom Group, which has its head office in the Isle of Man, as well as offices in 14 other jurisdictions around the world.

In 2016 she won the Claremont Award for Business Person of the Year. We caught up with her one year on to hear about her experience and how winning the award has impacted on her local profile.

What are your most memorable career highlights?

My most memorable moment would have to be leading the initial management buyout that went on to form Equiom back in 2006 - which I still can’t believe is now nearly 11 years ago.

It was a real turning point in my career and I can honestly say I’ve not stopped since.

My plans are bigger than ever and I think back fondly to that landmark moment in my career. It really triggered my passion for taking the business to the next level and we are still very much on that same journey, growing year on year and expanding into new jurisdictions along the way. Becoming global CEO was also a huge milestone for me.

To know that your board has complete faith in you to steer the business in the right direction is a huge honour and one of the many reasons I work so hard every single day.

What advice would you give to a young career-minded person starting out now?

I would have to offer two key pieces of advice.

The first is to work smart, show commitment and approach everything with the right attitude.

If you’re committed and you have the right attitude, people are going to want to see you progress.

The second is to master the art of listening and learning from people.

Once you’ve accepted you never stop learning, then there’s no end to your personal development. You will constantly learn from those around you - good and bad lessons.

Is there anything you would still like to achieve?

There is so much I still want to achieve!

I owe a lot to my mentor Larry Kearns, who shaped me into the business person I am today so I’m extremely keen to create a similar environment for school leavers or those looking for an alternative to university.

Over the summer, we’ve been busy rolling out our apprenticeship schemes which I think are a fantastic opportunity for any career minded individual to get involved with.

By learning on the job, they will gain the skills and experience needed to follow a successful career path and potentially work towards a professional qualification.

In turn, the island will get the skills it needs and we can mentor and teach those looking to gain invaluable experience.

You must be very proud of what you have helped to achieve as patron of Manx Breast Cancer Support Group. Can you tell us a bit about that?

I am so incredibly proud to be patron of such a fantastic charity that benefits so many families on the Isle of Man.

What those girls have achieved is amazing - to have our own breast cancer unit on the Isle of Man is nothing short of phenomenal. I was incredibly honoured to attend the official opening of the unit in July and it really was quite emotional to see all the charity’s fundraising come to fruition. I feel very grounded when I spend time with Julie Stokes and the other girls. It makes you realise what is important in life.

What has happened since the awards last year and what have you got out of winning?

Since I won the award for Business Person of the Year, we have expanded into six new jurisdictions with strategic acquisitions, which have put us on the map in places such as Japan, Scotland, the US and New Zealand.

We have expanded our service offering, building on what we currently provide and most importantly we have a brilliant team of more than 600 people across the globe who are experts in everything from tax and legislation to acquisition, integration and technology.

Receiving credible awards really strengthens our reputation as a leading professional services provider and gives us the platform to stand head and shoulders above others. When it comes to winning new business, clients are always reassured to know we are recognised by renowned award bodies.

Following the Awards for Excellence last year, I’ve been humbled by the comments and congratulatory remarks.

My LinkedIn following has grown two-fold and I’ve had more contact with people locally. I’ve been able to re-connect with people I had lost touch with and it gives me a great sense of closeness with the Isle of Man.

It has also re-fuelled my motivation to move forward with what I am passionate about. I haven’t stopped since then and I have no intention of slowing down now.

Would you encourage others to enter the awards?

Yes - just go for it! The Awards for Excellence offer you a great opportunity to review all that you have achieved in life. Whether you realise it or not, most of us have accomplished a great deal, either personally or in your career.

There are some truly amazing people on this island doing great things every day.

I would urge you to get the recognition you deserve. Be proud and show the world what you are made of!

You can find full details of all 16 award categories and download entry forms at www.awards-excellence.im.