Page 53 - July 2023

WORK/LIFE

My 9-to-5 women of the past. To celebrate women in
medicine, each IYASU bag is named after an
inspirational female medical pioneer, including
The founder of luxury medical bag company IYASU, Dr Catherine Fernando, Elizabeth Blackwell, Elsie Inglis, Catherine Hamlin,
shares her daily life and career path. Patricia Bath, Virginia Apgar and Mae Jemison.

After work I…
I enjoy going to the theatre or seeing comedy
shows. I also like spending the day at the beach
and swimming in the sea with my children.

What’s the best piece of career advice
you’ve been given?
Do what you want to do, not what other people
think you should do. When I was in hospital
medicine my colleagues wanted me to do that
but in my heart, I always wanted to be a GP as it
suits my personality more. You have to go with
what suits your lifestyle. When you are working
in medicine you are used to doing things for
Where do you call home? - I have been working as a doctor for 20 years
Haddington in East Lothian. I work at the local and I didn’t want to give up that part of me. other people so it was hard to step aside to set
up my business.
GP practice here and I love it because it is close
to the beach. I cycle almost every day. We live It was really daunting to set up the company as
in a lovely neighbourhood and there are lots I didn’t have a business background, but I knew Find out more about IYASU at iyasubags.com
of activities available – my children attend there was a need for medical bags for female
dancing and gymnastics classes. doctors. I went to Business Gateway with the
idea, they loved it and put me in touch with About Haddington
My day starts with… Scottish Enterprise who gave me funding to Haddington is an historic market town There are also a range of boutique shops
make the bags. I called the brand IYASU, which
At 5am I make a cup of tea and tiptoe upstairs set amongst picturesque East Lothian and art galleries, and East Lothian’s state-of-
to my study so as not to wake anyone. This is Japanese for ‘to heal’. countryside and is within easy access to the-art library and museum, the John Gray
is my favourite part of the day as it’s the only surrounding towns such as North Berwick, Centre, is located on the high street.
time I get to spend alone with my thoughts. At I found a designer who had worked in the Drem, Dunbar and Edinburgh. It is well
6.30am my eldest children reluctantly roll out fashion industry for 30 years, sent her the known for nearby Hailes Castle along with For those who love sports, the town has its
of bed as they have to catch a bus to school. medical equipment that needed to go in them St Mary’s Collegiate Church and Amisfield own golf course, and there is a great sports
and she came up with six designs. House. centre with two swimming pools and various
At 7am I wake up my two youngest daughters fitness classes. The town also benefits from
who are still at primary school. At 7.45am I walk A typical working day usually involves… The town has a range of local amenities several lovely walking routes along the River
them to the school gates and then walk to the When I am not in the practice my day is based including coffee shops, eateries, supermarkets Tyne or in the countryside.
GP practice where I work. around calls and emails, looking at new designs and independent retailers.
and attending events and photo shoots – the
I got my job… bags are modelled by medical staff from East
Lothian, Edinburgh and Glasgow. £281,624 average 104.6% of Home Report The median days to under
I stopped working as a GP for 15 months to
set up my business, but I am now back at the selling price valuation attained offer is just 21 days
practice on Mondays and Wednesdays. I think I also spend lots of time writing about women
it gives me more credibility as a business owner in medicine – modern day women as well as (Figures are based on properties marketed and sold through ESPC. Home Report valuations relate to properties where the
Home Report was available on espc.com. Figures relate to the three-month period ending on 30/06/2023).
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