Hot 100 career quiz: Kiran Bhogal

What’s your most vivid memory from being a trainee?

Being told how to break into centrally locked cars while interviewing a client in Armley prison – thankfully not had to put this information to use (yet…)

Who has been the most influential person in your career? Why, and how have they helped you?

A number of people have influenced me at different stages of my career but the most influential have to be my parents. I grew up at a time and in a community where further education for girls was not common place and whilst it may sound cliché, their belief in me and in challenging the norm has given me opportunities which I could only otherwise have dreamed of.

What was the best career decision you ever made, and why?

Taking the risk of qualifying into a seat (healthcare law) that I had no knowledge, appreciation or experience in; which gave me the opportunity to work in a fascinating and ever developing area of law – one that I continue to learn from.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to get to where you are / do the job you do?

To understand and recognise that life very rarely goes to plan and that the best you can do is to respond to the challenges thrown your way (which they will be) with integrity and commitment, treating the people you work with and for with respect while doing so at all times with passion, humour and grace. If the will is there, anything (and everything) is possible.

What work or career related project or activity would you really like to do, but don’t have time for?

I am fortunate to have had a broad experience in healthcare work encompassing a wide variety of cases. It would be great to have the time to be able to get involved more strategically within the healthcare sector, working both with current policy makers and front line staff who are faced with the enormous task of delivering and implementing policies on a daily basis, in order to help them deliver even better and safer healthcare services.