Hazel Reid explores why Lesley Collins is a force to be reckoned with.

"I remember when I first approached a different bank to ask for help to set up in business, I was asked: Why do you want to do this, why don't you just stay at home?", Lesley recalls.

It's not an attitude she's let halt her progress. It may be a male-dominated world – only 3-4% of financial advisers are female, but Lesley doesn't let that hold her back. She initially worked for someone else but, discontented with being tied to one insurance provider, Lesley branched out on her own. After a few years, she recognised that financial planning for women was a real niche, so in 1997 she launched Independent Women, her company of independent financial advisers, with offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and, recently, Dubai.