An amazing and inspiring woman.  Her role model is taken from classical history, the Empress Theodora, wife of Justinian, and before you turn away. She lay naked in the amphitheatre, covered in honey, so that people should see what a great body she has.  Interestingly Martha doesn't think that role models are so important as the good and supportive network which you gather round you.
 
The next role model "My parents together as one. They were supportive and allowed me to do what ever I wanted. They were totally supportive of us children, and in themselves were inspiring people."

 

Third role model is Winnie the Pooh. I think it must be the honey connection.  "But of all the reading I've done, I keep coming back to War and Peace. Keep going back to Tolstoy. I love the book, the richness of the tapestry of life.  Tolstoy has such a broad canvas and yet captures the human spirit."

The most surprising was from a recent event for Reprieve.  Martha supports the group Reprieve, which aims to get prisoners off death row.  www.reprieve.org.uk.

"One of my best friends, Shauneen Lambe, was the founder of Reprieve and involved in human rights and criminal justice. I was so impressed.  I have always been really interested in the penal system, read lots of criminal justice, not as part of my studies, but have always hated the idea of having my wings clipped, and it stems from the idea that how you treat people comes back to you,  that you are sending into a spiral how you treat people.   This event reinforced the Tolstoy idea. One of the prisoners, facing a bleak outcome, spoke so movingly and with great humility.  It never ceases to amaze the strength of the human spirit and how overwhelming people can be in adversity."

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The most challenging event in my life was learning to walk again.
"My body flew across the desert and landed on a rock," she had been thrown out of a jeep in Morocco, landing on her right side, smashing her pelvis in six places, and almost destroying one of her legs. And worst of all, lying on the desert ground, she was suffering from massive internal bleeding. "I don't remember any of what happened next, but the doctors said there were bits of bone and blood floating around inside me. The danger was that they would spread to my brain."  She says if she hadn't had the money from the sale of dotcom, to buy the best medical treatment and supporters carers, she would not have survived.
 
"It was difficult, and I could only proceed slowly, day by day, setting small goals constantly so I could see that I was making progress. Of course overall, the love and support of family and friends.  I think overwhelmingly what came through was never take for granted the love and support of family and friends.  How lucky you are."

The events or occasion which produced the most learning again and again; that people in terrible situations can do amazing work.
CAMFED

The work that CAMFED are doing in African schools, where they are getting uniforms, transport, mentors.  These women are living in African villages with AIDS and economic problems, yet they manage to get a university degree. They are extraordinary.  Camfed is dedicated to eradicating poverty in Africa through the education of girls and the empowerment of young women.

"When people say it cannot be done, they only mean it has never been done before." Angeline Mugwendere, supported by Camfed through school and now the national director of the Zimbabwe programme.  Educating girls and women helps individuals. It also unlocks energies which drive social and economic development.

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"It would be churlish to say that I've had problems as a woman. It is harder and there are challenges, some people seem not to live in the 21st century. I have been very lucky. However there was one occasion I will mention.  When Brent Hoberman and I were going to set up lastminute.com we went to see our first Venture Capitalist. I was very nervous and we did the presentation, then he looked at me and said: "What happens if you get pregnant?"  I was completely confused, as I hadn't expected such a question.  I have to say that not all VCs were like that.  And now that I am Non Executive Director of Marks and Spencer and Channel 4, these are dynamic modern companies. The last thing we want is tokenism, we want broader working practices, more flexible working.  But the top women in the city still are few by comparison with the men."

"Loads, but I don't look back much.  I'm sure I've made mistakes, hiring  people, firing people, on deals on a personal level, but  I think its important to make mistakes and learn from them. Learn daily in life and try to do better."

"Setting up lastminute and selling at the right time.  I believe strongly in the importance of the support network, but I am also aggressive in going out there and looking for people, getting Alan Leighton for the chair for 3 years."

"I don't think I have any, but someone I admire particularly is Clive Stafford Smith, Director of Reprieve."

"Loads of men.  Especially my dad: eccentric, bright, academic, challenging. He sets high expectations for you as much as for himself.  Brent Hoberman.  He came to me, generous in sharing half his ideas and incredible support.  My boyfriend Chris who has supported me through the accident."

"A strong social conscience.  An awareness that you are  connected into the world around you and feed that back.
 
Total love and devotion to your family. Take  inspiration from them.
 
Be disruptive: challenge authority. Not just taking it as read, peoples expectations so that you young women don't need to feel that they have to be any particular way."