52 | THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Launching thro
T here are moments in life when everything seems to happen at once, when the ground shifts beneath your feet and you’re left with a choice – either stand still or step forward anyway. For me, it wasn’t one single moment, but a series of events that unfolded over time, each one building on the next and ultimately reshaping both my personal life and my professional path. In 2024, I attended the Global Payroll Association Awards in Athens. This offered a moment of reflection, a pause from the day-to-day and an opportunity to think about where I was heading in my career. At that point, I knew what I didn’t want to do, but I didn’t yet have full clarity on what I did want. I was at a crossroads, even if I didn’t fully realise it at the time. It was during that trip that I met Arild Spandow. There may have been tequila involved, which still makes me smile when I think back to it, but what truly mattered was the conversation we had. He saw something in me. He believed in my passion, my experience and the way I approached my work. He believed that there was an opportunity to build something in the UK, something different, something better. That belief stayed with me. Also during that time, my life took a very different turn. My sister was diagnosed with cancer. Watching someone you
uncertainty and a deep awareness of what really matters. Supporting her was incredibly important to me, but it also meant carrying a constant emotional weight in the background of everything I was doing. Then in early 2025, as I was preparing to launch Amesto Payroll UK, I faced my own breast cancer scare. It came at a time when I needed to be fully focussed, committed and clear minded. Instead, I was dealing with fear and uncertainty I couldn’t ignore. Having already lost my mum to cancer, it made everything feel even more real. And yet, despite everything, I kept moving forward. At that point in my life, I had a job I genuinely loved. I worked with colleagues I enjoyed being around, people who supported me and made every day rewarding. Staying would have been the easier option. It was secure, familiar and comfortable.
alongside my business partner, Amesto Accounthouse Norway. It wasn’t just about starting a business. It was about building something that reflected my values, my experience and my belief in how client service should be delivered. Shortly after launching, my personal life shifted again. My separation from my husband completely blindsided me. It wasn’t something I’d planned for, and it added another layer of challenge at a time when I was already being stretched in every direction. There were moments when everything felt overwhelming. Moments where I questioned whether I could keep going. I thought about quitting, not because I didn’t believe in the business, but because the weight of everything felt too much. Through all of this, I was also a mum to three children, one studying A-Levels, one at university and the other building his own life outside the home. They’re all at different stages, but they remain at the centre of everything I do. And still, I didn’t quit. Amesto Payroll UK became something that grounded me. It gave me focus when everything else felt uncertain. It gave me purpose when life felt out of control. It became something I could build, shape and grow,
Especially
with everything else going on in my life, staying would have made complete sense. But I
chose not to. I wanted to build something
love going through something so life-changing shifts your entire perspective. It brings fear,
of my own. That decision led to the creation of Amesto Payroll UK,
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