Novo Cinemas boss follows her vision

Debbie Stanford-Kristiansen watches a lot of movies, which means she's stopping taking in a film on the weekend with her family.

Debbie Stanford-Kristiansen, chief executive of Novo Cinemas. Antonie Robertson / The National

Debbie Stanford-Kristiansen, the chief executive of Novo Cinemas in the UAE, has always had a passion for film, although she has not always worked in cinema. The 47-year-old mother of two began her career as an organising executive for a business tourism exhibition in Geneva, Switzerland, at the age of 21. She organised Mice (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) events around the world – from Australia to Brazil – until 2004, when she was hired to set up the Convention Authority in Bahrain. The project was put on hold because of the Arab Spring and Ms Stanford-Kristiansen was offered an opportunity to join q.media to head up Novo Cinemas.

What are your favourite things to do on the weekend?

It’s really spending time with my family: my husband, my son and my daughter. When it’s not too hot, I go to the beach and take a nice walk along the ocean. I grew up in Brighton, in the United Kingdom, so being close to the water is something that I’m very close to. Apart from that, going out for a nice meal, meeting up with friends and a little bit of retail therapy every now and then. We always used to go and watch a movie on the weekend, so I still do that but [at work] there are usually screenings during the week for the following week. The only ones I don’t like to see are the horror movies because I am a complete wuss when it comes to horror movies. Too freaky for me.

What do you consider to be your favourite hobby?

I like to travel. I’ve been very lucky in my career because I’ve pretty much been all around the globe, I love to experience other cultures. I collect a little bit of art too. I can’t cook; I’m a hopeless cook, which is why I’m glad I have a fabulous husband who can cook, otherwise he’d starve. I like very modern art, but I don’t put myself in one box. Same with music: I like all types of music.

What can’t you live without?

My family. What I would like to live without is this (picks up BlackBerry phone). Unfortunately, we’re joined at the hip. But that’s all right, I am a bit of a workaholic.

What do you consider the secret to your success?

I think I’m a good people person – I’m a good judge of character. And I believe that to get respect in life, you must give respect – and it doesn’t matter if they’re a road sleeper or the highest person in the land. I love mentoring people. I’ve been very fortunate in my career that I’ve had two really great mentors who helped me to unlock some of my potential, so that’s something that I’m passionate to give back as I go along.

What advice would you offer other people starting out in your business?

Go in with an open mind and immerse yourself, because you’ll very quickly get wrapped up in it. It’s a very exciting industry, but it’s fast-paced. It’s not for the faint-hearted. If you’re someone who has got the energy and you’re passionate and love movies, this is definitely the industry for you. Once you’re in this industry, that’s it: you’ll never leave it.

How do you achieve a work-life balance?

It’s hard sometimes to separate yourself, because I love what I do and I think if you love what you do, then you don’t mind the extra hours when you’re supposed to be off. It’s a very tough industry, in terms of the number of hours. It’s not a 9 to 5 job, it’s a 24/7 job. It’s not easy – it’s very hard work. You will absolutely live, breathe and sleep for cinema, but it’s exciting.

How do you relax after the working day?

I go home, put my feet up and watch a movie usually [laughs]. By the time I leave the office it’s usually pretty late.

If you weren’t chief executive of this company, what else would you be doing?

I’ve never thought about not working because it’s something that I love to do. But I like interior design, so maybe if I wasn’t doing what I’m doing, then maybe I’d move into interior design. I love changing things and matching things together, and colours, shapes and designs. My husband is always saying: “Oh God, you’ve moved things around again”.

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