Despite being a business journalist at the BBC for ten years, working behind the scenes on our high-profile news programmes, I was viewed by some in the organisation to be 'too common for telly.' Steph McGovern More Quotes by Steph McGovern More Quotes From Steph McGovern You'll never see me on anything like 'MasterChef.' I'm just not interested. Steph McGovern never see me you If it's a healthy day, I'll head to the gym, then have a steak salad at the cafe next door. Steph McGovern cafe door day gym I get up at 3:30 A. M. We're on air from 6 A. M., so if I'm in the studio, I'll have eggs at around 7 A. M. from the canteen - scrambled or poached, occasionally with a slice of brown toast. Steph McGovern get up brown air Drinks-wise, I stick to water, sometimes a Diet Coke. Steph McGovern stick diet sometimes water I am not with child - I am with pot belly. Steph McGovern i-am child belly pot I just like to think of everyone as a happy family but in football that just doesn't exist. Steph McGovern think family happy football I am not frugal - I'm quite a big spender - but not on credit. Steph McGovern quite i-am big credit I look at my bank account every day. I constantly think about what is going in and out, and I will always try to save money on something if I can. Steph McGovern day look think money I see myself as a bit of a capitalist really - I like enterprise and making money. Steph McGovern see myself making-money money Since becoming a BBC breakfast presenter I have been paid four-figure sums for doing hour-long speeches for associations and at awards dinners. That has been an eye-opener. I am surprised by how much people are willing to pay TV celebrities to do that kind of stuff. Steph McGovern i-am doing people breakfast Kids have some of the best ideas - bringing new eyes to old problems. Steph McGovern eyes problems best ideas I meet a lot of people with my BBC Breakfast job who have great businesses. Steph McGovern job great people breakfast Business leaders regularly complain that young people don't leave school with the right skills. Encouraging young people to be entrepreneurs makes the connection between school and the world of work, teaching them about practical thinking, team-work, communication and financial literacy. Steph McGovern communication business work people My first attempt at a business was a jumble sale which I ran at the end of my next door neighbour's drive. I used to rummage through her garage, looking for anything that I thought people might buy. I'd then set up a table and try to sell what I could to the people walking by. Steph McGovern looking drive business people We concentrate too much on ethnic diversity and not enough on class. It's dead important to represent loads of different cultures. But what the BBC doesn't do enough of is thinking about getting people from more working-class backgrounds. Steph McGovern dead diversity people thinking There are a lot of women who do a similar job to me who are paid a hell of a lot more... who are a lot posher than me. Steph McGovern job me hell women The most rewarding, insightful and challenging year of my life was my 'Year in Industry' working as a trainee engineer at Black & Decker, which involved studying part time at college. Steph McGovern my-life black time life There's a common problem: if a kid is not good at exams, they often think they are not skilled. Yet many of them do have the skills employers are looking for - but often we don't show them that, or teach them how to develop them, or celebrate them. Steph McGovern looking good think celebrate If someone chooses a vocational route, why do they not get the same respect in society as someone who just does a pure academic route? Steph McGovern someone pure respect society From a young age I had a real sense of the world of work. This is what vocational education gives you. Steph McGovern you age education work
