A former star of BBC programme Dragons' Den has told BusinessLive she is keen to champion young people as they start their entrepreneurial careers.
Jenny Campbell appeared in two series of the hit show during which she invested in a gin maker, a parking app and a hemp product producer among others.
Speaking exclusively to BusinessLive, she said helping young people embark on their careers was now a big driving force for her as she enjoyed working on a portfolio of business projects.
"I've always championed young people to achieve and succeed, whether that's being an entrepreneur or an intrepreneur within someone else's business, or pursuing a career within a corporate business," she said.
"I've always championed them to believe in themselves and have the confidence to do well.
"It's about how much self belief you have to tackle challenges. I was asked what I would tell my 16-year-old self. It's always dream big.
"I have been lucky and successful and all those things but I sometimes think where would I be if I had dreamed big at 16?
"I just took incremental steps and became bolder and braver as I grew older."
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She was speaking after an event in Birmingham run by NatWest to mark the fifth anniversary of its Entrepreneur Accelerator hub.
The scheme offers new and growing companies the chance to work at its offices in Brindleyplace and receive mentoring and access to networking and industry experts.
Mrs Campbell spent many years of her career working for the RBS Group and later bought out its ATM division YourCash before exiting in 2016.
She now enjoys a portfolio career and splits her time looking after the companies she invested in as a 'Dragon', helping her sons with their own business ventures and showing her dogs.
She said she fully expected to be appearing at Crufts at the NEC next month.
Asked where 海角视频 plc could improve itself, she told BusinessLive: "I wish we had a different culture in this country to business, particularly for women.
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"I have good friends in Norway and Sweden where they don't really need to talk about gender and issues such as childcare because it's equal from day one.
"The women there see it as equal with their male partners whereas in this country we still have the culture of the woman feeling she has to ask the man to help and we need to get over that cultural barrier and mindset.
"Do employers truly accept that a man should take his full paternity leave or is it seen as a career blocker?
"I've read some of the things in the Alison Rose report (on female entrepreneurship) about women's aspirations to set up and grow businesses and apply for finance but they don't have the same aspirations in the first place.
"They feel they have the childcare burden or there is a lack of confidence to go and borrow big money.
"I do believe women are inhibited by ourselves first and foremost, partially because of the culture bubble."
Looking ahead, she said the country was now on a firmer footing as the Brexit situation moved forward following years of uncertainty.
She added: "I'm glad the political scene is now settled. That was getting quite frustrating in the end - and boring.
"When you yourself can do absolutely nothing about it but it's just all around you. It's quite frustrating so I'm glad that it is done.
"There's a level of positivity returned to the country which is good."