The Boardroom

Directors, specialist, CEOs, MBEs, PhD holders, and other higher ups… they’re all people you might meet in the boardroom. It’s a professional space where best behaviour is upheld. But these successful types are good people too! They have lives and we want to know what goes on in them. We squeeze answers out of them on subjects you wouldn’t normally discuss in the boardroom

PROFILE: Andrea Pinchen CEO, Leicester Tigers Age: 55 From: Leicester City Centre Noteworthy: Worked in Dubai as a Leadership Training Specialist for Emirates Airline. Nineteen years with Leicester Tigers – last two and a half as CEO. One of only two female chief executives in the league

FRIENDSHIPS: How would you describe yourself as a friend? Loyal, trustworthy, supportive.

ADVENTURES: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done? I once was on stage with The Temptations and sang ‘My Girl’ in front of 10,000 people. They dragged me up on stage, checked I knew the words, and off we went.

ENVIRONMENT: Where would your nearest and dearest look for you? Cornwall. I got married there, and it’s my go-to place to relax; I feel my shoulders dropping as soon as I arrive.

HEALTH AND FITNESS: What’s your unhealthiest habit? I’m a crisp connoisseur. I’m from Leicester, the home of Walkers, so it’s inevitable! INTELLECTUAL LIFE: What do you geek out on? True Crime stories. I’m fascinated by the investigation process. LOVE RELATIONSHIPS: What’s your best relationship advice? If you’ve been clothes shopping, sneak it into the house, hang it in your wardrobe

and don’t wear it for a while. Then when you bring it out, pretend you’ve had it for months. I hope my husband doesn’t read this! SKILLS: Weirdly good at anything? My previous career turned me into a fount of knowledge about hijacking and bomb threats to train airlines how to deal with them, so I’m weirdly good at that!

SPIRITUAL LIFE: Which of life’s mysteries keep you up at night? What comes next? Is there an afterlife? I was brought up Catholic, yet I’ve been lucky enough to learn about so many different cultures, through working in Dubai and living in Leicester, so all the different ideas and viewpoints are fascinating.

CAREER: What’s the worst part about your job? Losing. It’s hideous. Whatever happens at the weekend – win, lose or draw – I have to come in on Monday and gear everybody up for the week ahead; it’s always harder if we’ve lost.

CREATIVE LIFE: Outside of work, what did you last ‘create’? My sister is an award-winning interior designer, and she got all the creative genes! FAMILY LIFE: What’s your most fond memory from childhood? We used to go on camping holidays to France. It would be dad driving us there and then having to hammer tent pegs into completely solid ground at the campsite.

COMMUNITY LIFE: Which political topic are you most interested in right now? Diversity and inclusion. My interest is led by what the club does, but seeing it in action – sharing culture and breaking down barriers – is fantastic. Rugby has often been seen as traditional and elitist, but it’s not, and we need to ensure we’re doing all we can to welcome everyone in.