We're celebrating Lianne from Asda Ashington this International Women's Day

Colleagues at the store like online trading manager Stacey Taylor, who's been Lianne's mentor, say she's an inspiration.

Stacey said: "Lianne is a shining example of a woman in leadership and that you can do anything you put your mind to with the right attitude and willingness to learn.

"She brings great energy to the team and is a role model for great behaviour."

Lianne, who's 30 and has two girls – Summer, aged nine, and Maisie, who's six – urges everyone to never give up and to always follow their dreams.

She said: "Although it's tough juggling a full-time job with raising two young girls, it's not unachievable and you shouldn't feel deterred by that or feel that it will hold you back.

"With the right people behind you, you really can go after your goals and Asda will help you to succeed with the right attitude. I've had so much support from my family, especially my mum, grandma and twin sister Kirsty who works here on Click & Collect, and the management have always allowed me to be flexible."

Lianne started working at our Ashington store in 2010 while she studied journalism at Northumbria University and, after graduating with a BA Honours degree, she started to work at the store full time.

She moved onto the customer service desk and then in 2021 she was asked to cover maternity leave as a front-end section leader back by her then manager Stacey.

"I really thrived on this opportunity," said Lianne. "It really challenged me as it was in the midst of the pandemic. I was supporting the running of the department and it my first experience of a leadership role, but it was something that I really wanted to do.

"I gave it my all, whether it be coming in on days off or running the department on my own for a week here and there it really gave me a taste of where I wanted to be and where I wanted to go."

In August 2021 an admin role came up and Lianne was keen to accept the challenge.

She said: "Although this was something I had no experience of, I think the best way to learn, grow and better yourself is to put yourself out of your comfort zone, so I felt this would be an exciting and interesting opportunity for me. So I applied, and I was successful.

"Three short months later a customer trading manager vacancy became free. Our store manager Aidan Rutherford approached me knowing that this was a position I'd told him I wanted from first stepping up. I have really tried to embrace each new change and lean into it and be open to it rather than be apprehensive, as change is a positive thing."

The store's community champion Amanda Sheldon was Lianne's section leader up until three years ago while she was on the customer service desk.

Amanda said: "I have watched her grow into a stronger, more independent woman. Having gone through a lot of personal stumbling blocks Lianne overcame everything to be where she is now. She shows others just how quickly you can progress within the company. She is very resilient and seems to thrive on challenges."