My love of design was strongly influenced by my talented father, Graham Ambrose, who is a furniture designer, boat-builder, potter and ceramic artist. While sweeping his factory floor for pocket money, my curious nature would explore. I observed all I could and started to see things from the way they transformed from sketch to creation. He would balance the beauty of his designs with the practicality of having to build furniture or boats that would actually function. This probably was the one thing that influenced me most and inspired my love of both design and development, and the idea that form should follow function.

When I left school, I wanted to be a graphic designer but ended up falling into interior design and architectural drafting - something else I'd excelled in at school. I worked as an interior designer for seven years in the corporate interior design space across New Zealand, Australia and the UK.

From there, during the '90s, I stepped away from design and became a long-haul flight attendant with Air New Zealand. It was so much fun and further enriched my perspective on life! I did this for five years.

This background gave me the skills to chat with people at any level and get people to open up to me. It helps me today when I interview clients and discover their business stories - I am endlessly curious!

When I decided the lifestyle of a long-haul flight attendant was no longer for me, I briefly returned to interior design, where I learned ArchiCAD.

During that experience, I discovered I have a wonderful affinity with technology - something I'd never explored before. I ended up studying everything I needed to use digital design as my platform. It perfectly coincided with the World Wide Web becoming a thing! At that time, less than 20% of businesses were represented on the web.

I started my first digital role with IBM, working on educational training solutions in media production, then had an opportunity open with Macquarie Bank, where I worked in a web team developing deal transaction portals.

It feels like a whole different life as I write all this, but this background means I'm grateful for all my amazing corporate experiences and connections.

After a number of years, I'd reached my limit with corporate life and wanted more creative freedom and work outside the finance industry. My father was always self-employed, and I think that always inspired my dream to dance to my own tune.

So Britt Ambrose Design was born. I loved helping small and micro businesses launch their first websites at a time when websites were mostly only affordable for larger companies with big budgets.

Twenty-plus years later, I'm humbled to be an award-winning and industry-recognised web designer and developer who has helped hundreds of businesses shine and flourish online.