What was it that made you want to work with the magazine publishing industry?

I have always loved magazines and always loved reading. As a child I was crazy about Smash Hits. I got into magazines by chance. I actually wanted to set up my own business and needed to raise some capital so I got a job as a dental nurse and within a week I was fired! Immediately after that I started temping at UBM working on a portfolio of B2B titles – everything from Estates Times to Carpet and Floorcovering Review – all the sexy titles! There were so many areas of the publishing business that caught my interest. I loved the fact that every team played their individual part to produce a bigger whole. I’m also inquisitive so learning new skills was key. I learnt so much, especially in subjects I wouldn’t be interested in. It’s mindboggling what I know about arable and pig farming!

Chart your journey from the start to your current position:

My first introduction to publishing was working for UBM, from there I moved on to a company called CDS, working with consumer titles on the supplier side, which was a great way of meeting everybody in the industry. I then went on to _Highbury House_ where I did all my growing up. I loved it. From there I went onto Dovetail similar to CDS where we were owned by BBC and Denis Publishing. Not only did I have to manage shareholders, but also 80 additional publishing clients. Whilst at Dovetail I was headhunted by a Swedish company asking me to come and set up a digital publishing company for them in London. The rest is history. 5 years later and I’m still here at Readly, which has grown to be the European leader in digital magazine subscriptions.

What do you think are the main challenges facing magazine publishers right now?

There has been a mindset transition moving from print to digital, but I think most companies are there now. Companies shouldn’t talk about having a digital strategy, we are living in a digital world and they are digital media companies. Their key challenge is audience reach and leveraging as much as they can from their existing and new customers. I believe that is where Readly fits in. Our publishers have fantastic content, and Readly brings them new customers. The CEO of Buzzfeed said, content is King, but distribution is Queen and that is pretty much where we come in. We grow the brands footprint; create a new revenue stream and provide them with audience insight. Let’s face it attention has become a precious commodity in today’s world and bringing new eyeballs to our publishers’ content, can only be a good thing.

What advice would you give to a publisher who wants to get the most out of a platform like Readly?

My advice would be, try us out, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. The insights and data you receive from Readly will help you to understand your customer better than ever before.

How do you handle your deadlines?

It’s just a way of life. I get on with it. I think coming from a publishing background and now working for a tech start-up, it’s just engrained in me that that’s how you work. I’m a crazy list maker and I make lists for everything. You do whatever you need to do to get the job done.

Walk me through your typical day

No two days are really the same for me. Working for a start-up, sometimes you are white-water rafting, and other days the water is a little calmer but not for too long. I would love to give you the textbook spiel of I get up at 3, meditate, go for a run whilst eating dust and listening to the news! In reality, every single day is different and that is what makes Readly so brilliant. You don’t have time to get bored.

Whose phone number do you wish you had?

I am really interested in Persian poetry. I know this sounds a bit crazy but I would love to give Rumi a call who was a 13th century Persian poet. and if I couldn’t get hold of Rumi, it would have to be Oprah!

What is the worst piece of advice you have ever been given?

‘Don’t do it Ranj!'

What’s the last photo you took on your phone?

My niece, she’s great fun to capture!

What would be in your Room 101?

The list is endless?

Introvert or extrovert

I am a little bit of both depending on the situation.

Optimist or Pessimist

Always glass half full.

*Film or TV? *

I am a massive fan of Billions and we have just finished watching Succession.

Sweet or savoury?

Sweet all the time. I am eating a coconut cookie as we speak.

*If you were on a long train journey, what magazine would you read? *

Architectural Digest