Kirsty Young's castaway is the businesswoman Heather Rabbatts.
Born in Jamaica and raised in Britain, her early years were unpromising and she left school with just a few O levels. But after evening classes, she studied law and became a barrister before making her name as the youngest council chief in the country.
She's at home in the toughest business environments - from Millwall Football Club to the Royal Opera House - and says: "I definitely like being in charge and I've always felt that I can gather everyone's spirits and energies to take that jump into the unknown together."
Record: Que Sera Sera by Corinne Bailey Rae
Book: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Luxury: A solar powered digital photo album
Producer: Isabel Sargent.
Published on Sunday, 24th July 2011.
Available Podcasts from Desert Island Discs: Archive 2011-2015
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