Name: Carrie L Morris (L is for Louise if you’d really like to know!)

Job title: Managing director

Company: Carloumi Private Finance Ltd

What is the best thing about your job?:
I love being able to provide solutions to what many clients feel are sometimes complicated mortgage and financial planning requirements. I get a real sense of accomplishment when I am able to deliver the outcomes my clients wanted, but in some cases doubted they might be able to achieve; either because of being let down by the High Street Banks and building societies, or not understanding how differently their situation could be approached to make financing the levels required feasible. No two days are the same - each and every client scenario is different. Our clients range from first time buyers to people purchasing and re-financing residential and commercial property valued in excess of £30-40 million. Each piece of funding calls for a different approach and has enabled us to cultivate relationships with underwriters and lenders across the industry.

How have you been so quick in succeeding in such a tough market?:
The initial foundation to any successful business is to stay in control of your bottom line. Most businesses fail due to cash-flow issues, and being able to keep one’s overheads to a minimum has been very important – especially in the current environment. To survive and succeed in the current climate, every business, including ours, has had to be able to constantly adapt to a changing landscape (look at Next); providing you have a robust business plan, you know and understand your target audience and you have the passion, desire and determination to succeed, you will!

Why did you choose Birmingham as a business base/why is Birmingham a great place to do business?:
A number of our clients are Birmingham-based and having the company’s base in the city centre enables us to offer them a convenient place to meet and discuss their requirements – either during their lunch break, or after work (the parking costs are very reasonable too!). Although not Birmingham born and raised (I’m a Derbyshire lass originally, although you wouldn’t tell from my accent!), I believe this city has the best of everything – great shopping (something I’m attempting to rein in!), fantastic restaurants, and the ability for a SME like Carloumi to make its mark on the city – something which I believe we would struggle to achieve in London!

Biggest career highlight?:
There have been lots of highlights in pretty much every place I’ve worked; from winning best overall mortgage advisor awards, and being rewarded with trips to New York and Rome, to seeing Carloumi grow from nothing but an idea. My greatest highlight is being able to prove wrong all those people I’ve met during my career who thought I wouldn’t be successful.

Who do you most admire and respect in the business world?:
The person I most admire in the world of business is Richard Branson. Despite having dyslexia and his ideas at times appearing a little outlandish, many of them pay off. A number of his ideas have been later proved visionary, finding success in businesses as diverse as banking, music, wireless telecom, air travel, health clubs and high-speed commuter rail – behind which sits a brand which many have come to trust and respect the world over. All of that I believe make him the ultimate entrepreneur.

When you were younger what was your dream job?:
When I was very little I dreamed of being a doctor. My parents bought me a little blue and red doctor’s bag, with matching stethoscope and plastic hypodermic needle. I loved wrapping my little brother up in toilet paper so he looked like an Egyptian mummy!

Who was your childhood hero?:
My dad!

Lazing on the beach or an activity holiday?:
A bit of both – there’s nothing nicer than lying on the beach hearing the sound of the waves lapping against the shore, a bottle of cold beer in your left hand, a good book in the right and the sun warming your bones – I wish I could be there right now! But it’s nice to break it up – pity to go to another country and never actually see the country, taste the food, or meet the people!