Marilyn developed and honed her leadership skills managing large-scale, high-profile operations within the media sector. This progressive seventeen-year career included several senior management roles within major plc organisations where she earned a reputation for transforming multi-million-pound projects from underachievement into unquestionable success stories. A Greater Manchester LEP board member, she also sits on the Governance Committee for the National Electrification Skills Forum with cross sectoral representation including automotive, aerospace and food & drink.

Marilyn was honoured by HRH The Queen with an OBE for services to woman’s enterprise in 2009, was awarded the prestigious Kofi Annan African Leadership Excellence Award, an honorary doctorate by Birmingham University in 2018, was inducted into the City of Champions Hall of Fame in 2021.