Deb is CEO of Forensic Pathways & President of British Association of Women Entrepreneurs (BAWE). She is also a consultant on entrepreneurship, business strategy, CSR and international trade. Here's what she said before taking her first steps into stand-up:
"Being an entrepreneur is all about taking opportunities and understanding risk. In 2001 I took a bold step in setting up Forensic Pathways with no knowledge of forensics and a basic understanding of business. Taking part in the Funny Women Challenge is no different. It’s an opportunity, with some risk (nothing that’s going to kill me). It’s exciting and scary and at times creates a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. It’s wonderful! It shows I’m alive. The best bit – it’s for charity. You never know I may get paid more to get off the stage!"
Deb is being supported by BAWE and raising funds for the FPA, the sexual health charity.
Here is what Deb had to say after completing the Challenge:
"Doing stand-up was always something that had been on my bucket list so when Lynne caught me running out of the door to catch a train when we we were at an event together and asked me to do the challenge I didn't think I simply said yes. The material came to me fairly easily, being married for nearly 30 years tends to help, but making the stories sharp, honing them down so they were punchier was the real challenge.
"Having done it I'm now hooked. I loved every minute of it and will definitely do it again. It's certainly something that takes you out your comfort zone and being an entrepreneur that is something you have to get used."
Here's some footage of Deb in action on the night combined with her interview on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour:
