The professional woman I most admire is Sheryl Sandberg because she is prepared to speak out about issues she cares about, like female leadership and participation in the workforce, even though she gets a lot of flak for it.

To juggle my work and life balance I have moved my company offices closer to my home, so that I can walk to work. It saves me probably two hours of travelling a day.

My biggest career break was in 1997. I took two years off and spent time travelling, particularly in South America, before coming back to the UK and figuring out that what I really wanted to do was to start my own business.

The biggest influence on my career was going to Hong Kong in my early twenties and working in that amazing city for five years. It was a work hard, play hard, fun, entrepreneurial environment, and I loved it.

One thing that makes me mad in business today is all-male panels at conferences.

Boardroom quotas are necessary or nuts? When I was younger I didn’t believe in quotas. Now I am older and things have hardly changed, I believe more pro-active action is necessary.

My one tip on negotiating a pay rise is to ask for it, don’t expect it.

In five years I see myself on a ski slope!

My number one piece of advice to young women starting their careers is don’t be intimidated. Believe in yourself because you are just as good as all the other people around you.

My favourite wind down activity is karate. I’m a black belt and I try to train at least twice a week.

The last book I read was All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

The one thing I can’t live without is a garden.

About Hazel

Hazel Moore is the co-founder and chairman of investment Bank First Capital.