Season 2 Episode 2: Integrating Finance, Fashion, and Family: Michelle Shuttleworth’s Inspiring Journey
What if your career could seamlessly blend finance, fashion, and family? Join us on Difference Makers Discuss as we sit down with Michelle Shuttleworth, a trailblazing CFO whose journey from PwC to the helm of the Francis Crick Institute is as inspiring as it is varied.
Michelle will talk about her early career choices, influenced by an internship at Coopers and Lybrand, and how these experiences laid the foundation for her diverse roles across Virgin Entertainment, Burberry, and the BBC.
Ever wondered how a brand can be revitalized while staying true to its roots? This is your chance to hear Michelle’s firsthand account of Burberry’s transformation under Christopher Bailey, where she played a pivotal role in merging archival elements with modern culture. She will also recount her impactful tenure at the BBC, shedding light on the organization’s unique governance and funding models, and how her work there parallels her current challenges at the Crick Institute. Michelle’s narrative underscores the importance of supportive work environments, particularly for working parents, and the art of managing stakeholder relationships.
Michelle will also take us through her passion project, BOA Wool, a testament to her commitment to sustainable fashion and British manufacturing.
Balancing her professional responsibilities with her personal life, Michelle provides candid insights into the realities of integrating work and family. This episode is a must-watch for anyone curious about the multifaceted roles accountants can play, offering valuable lessons on career growth, brand revitalization, and the pursuit of mission-driven objectives. Tune in and be inspired by Michelle’s remarkable journey.
Watch Past Episodes On Demand
What does it take to train for the Olympics while studying for your chartered accountancy exams, and then go on to break a world record? If you’re Catriona Jennings, the answer involves meticulous planning, hard-won resilience, and a willingness to take calculated risks, both on the track and in the boardroom.
In the latest episode of Difference Makers Discuss, host Sinead Donovan sat down with Nick, co-founder and CEO of Invigilator App, for a wide-ranging conversation that touched on educational equity, the ethics of AI, entrepreneurship, and why the Chartered Accountancy qualification might just be the best-kept secret in tech. It’s a conversation packed with insights that are as relevant to the boardroom as they are to the lecture hall.
In the final episode of Difference Makers Discuss Season 3, host Sinéad Donovan welcomed back two familiar voices—Brad Hook and Declan Scott, co-authors of the landmark Global Resilience and Well-being Report for Chartered Accountants Worldwide (CAW). Earlier in the year, their inaugural research sparked important conversations about how chartered accountants worldwide are coping with the new realities of work.
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Meet the Speakers
Michelle Shuttleworth is the Chief Financial Officer of the Crick and is responsible for the Institute’s financial leadership.
Michelle graduated from the London School of Economics & Political Science in 1999 and went on to qualify as a Chartered Accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers, specialising in financial services advisory and M&A in 2001. Following a variety of commercial finance and partnership roles with Virgin Entertainment Group and Burberry Plc, she joined the BBC, working on a number of growth initiatives and change programmes, latterly becoming Finance Director of the non-broadcast portfolio. Upon leaving the BBC, Michelle joined Thomson Reuters and became Chief Financial Officer of the Legal business in the UK.
Michelle left Thomson Reuters in 2019 and has since supported a number of charities through interim strategic positions, including Scope and The Science Museum Group. She also sits on the Board of The Photographer’s Gallery in Soho.
Michelle joined the Crick as interim CFO in May 2022, and appointed to the role permanently in August of the same year.
Our Host: Sinead Donovan, Chairperson of Grant Thornton and President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland
Sinead is the Chairperson of Grant Thornton and in the Immediate Past President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. Sinead joined Grant Thornton in 2002 and was admitted to the partnership in 2005, becoming the first female partner. She specialising in providing services to multinational companies and is partner in an international team which services the global needs of these mature and large companies, with particular regard to central reporting on multiple jurisdictions in Irish headquarters and/or Shared Service Centres. She was instrumental in founding the Irish/US Group, which is a permanent department, consisting of an Irish directors based in the US. This link ensures a seamless service offering between the Irish and US firms to relevant clients.
Sinead has been on the Council of the institute of Chartered Accountants for some 10 years and is an advocate for the accountancy profession. She is passionate about the need to ensure the profession utilises technology and AI smartly and effectively and is also a firm believer in the global qualification of Chartered Accountancy as the world becomes more connected.
Sinead is a strong believer in the importance of Inclusion; Diversity and Equity to ensure a motivated, effective and thriving work place. She is an advocate for mental wellbeing initiatives and a former chairperson of CA SUPPORT which is the body tasked with providing support to all Chartered members and students in Ireland.
