Interview

In Profile – Lynn Casson

Welcome to June’s edition of our special monthly feature which gives you the opportunity to ‘meet’ an industry figure and, hopefully, to discover another side to them beyond the well-known facts. This month we chat with Lynn Casson, General Manager at WCF.

Lynn Casson

“Make time for yourself”

Lynn Casson

 

Please give your career history in 25 words or fewer.

Most of my career has been spent in the fuel industry with WCF, serving customer needs, leading teams, and driving continuous improvement.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

Resilient, determined, competitive.

What were your childhood / early ambitions?

I always wanted to be a showjumper when I was young, I just needed the horse!

Describe your dream job (if you weren’t doing this?)

My dream job would be working outside with animals, probably dogs or horses, or I’d have a dog sanctuary where unwanted pets could live out their lives.

What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?

‘Trust your gut’.

Share your top tips for business success.

Make sure everyone is on the bus with you and make time for yourself; you can’t deliver to your full potential if you don’t.

What’s your most recent business achievement of note?

The role I’m in now and the current team I have at WCF Chandlers.

Tell us your greatest fear.

My biggest fear would be living a life with regrets.

 

Which is most important – ambition or talent?

Ambition.

What’s the best thing about your job?

The challenge and the people I work with. Whilst I have been in my current role for 5 years, I have worked for WCF for 29 years and I still love what I do.

As employee owners, we all have a personal stake in the future of the business and its employees, and have a hand in developing the next generation, and exploring their curiosity is really rewarding.

Which is the quality that you most admire?

Integrity.

What are you most likely to say?

Yes (to cake).

What are you least likely to say?

No (to cake).

Describe your perfect day.

 Walking in the Lake District with my family/friends and dogs and finishing in the pub

with a large glass of Sauvignon.

Do you have a favourite sports team?

No. I love watching any sport but particularly motorsports – it’s been a shared passion over the years, with my husband and friends all following FI and rallying.

What’s the biggest challenge of our time?

Mental health crisis and climate change, both a concern for our future generations.

Cheese or chocolate?

It’s close, but it has to be chocolate.

Share your greatest personal achievement.

My daughter – she makes me a better person. I also did a 64-mile charity walk in 2 days which was pretty brutal on the feet.

What’s your pet hate or biggest irritant?

Litter, unnecessary pet breeding when rescues are overflowing, middle lane drivers, labels that won’t peel off… I could go on.

If you were on ‘Mastermind’ what would your specialist subject be?

The film ‘The Holiday’, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve watched it.

If you were elected to government what would be the first law you’d press for?

It has to be around reducing childhood poverty, which is criminal in the modern world.

If your 20-year-old self saw you now what would they think?

Well done you, the hard work paid off!

What is number 1 on your bucket list?

To climb the UK Three Peaks this year.

What 3 things would you take to a desert island?

My husband (he’s far more resourceful than me).

Music.

A knife.

Tell us something about you that people would be very surprised by.

I have a twin (not identical) and I do dog agility as a hobby with my four border collies.

Image credit: Lynn Casson