Brooke Corte is the co-host of the newly launched TV and digital channel Your Money (formerly Sky News Business). She’s a Squizer, a mum to two toddlers and in her spare time is learning to figure skate (you go girl). Please welcome Brooke to the Three Minute Squiz…

How and where do you Squiz?
I listen to the Squiz Today podcast in the car, on my way to work.

You’ve spent a fair bit of time on doing early mornings on Sky News, how do you manage the early starts? With kids as well…
Between regular 2.30am alarms and two toddlers, the sleep deprivation has been torturous at points. But the truth is that keeping strange hours has also allowed me to be with my kids more than if I did a 9-5 job. I also have an awesome husband who I’ve been with since I was 16 so we’re a good team.

You’ve been covering business news for the best part of twenty years. Why business news?
Entrepreneurs and small business people are the most courageous, passionate and inspiring people you will meet in life. I really love speaking with them and helping to tell their stories. In the last month, I’ve had the privilege of interviewing the founders of Airtasker, Showpo, Canva, Prospa, Virgin Atlantic, Four Pillars Gin, Guzman y Gomez, and so many others. Each one of them put absolutely everything on the line to get where they are today.

Also, I really get excited by international financial markets. They have a powerful and often instant effect on our lives, our decisions and our emotions. For example, the recent murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi caused ructions in global oil prices which directly impacted the prices we’ve been paying to fill up our cars. I love how markets also constantly challenge you to learn new things about the world.

We saw you do complicated maths in your head on live TV the day the market completed a 10% correction. It was very impressive. Is your brain just wired that way?
That was very brave of me! It’s generally best to avoid doing mental calculations under the pressure of live TV because if you get it wrong you really look like a goose.

Give us the names of two business leaders/companies you find interesting/impressive that we might not have heard of…
Allbirds, a Kiwi footwear company taking the world (especially Silicon Valley) by storm and Samasource, founded by US-based Leila Janah. Both were speakers at this year’s “Vogue Codes” event I hosted in September and I was blown away by their stories.

What are the big business news themes we should look out for in the coming year?
One of the biggest unknowns for the economy next year is the extent to which Australians’ spending will be hurt by further house price declines. Also, the effect on the economy of a potential change of government will be big news.

What does an ideal weekend look like?
As long as I get a swim at the beach with my husband, two kids, and our dog, I’m happy. And an early night.

What skill or talent do you not have but wish you did?
Mastering a figure skating spin. Earlier this year I took up ice skating lessons for the first time and I’m not exactly skating with anywhere near the grace and style that I have dreamt of since I was eight years old!

What’s your best and worst habit?
Being a perfectionist.

What’s your favourite book?
The Big Short*. I highly recommend it to everyone!

Name four people – living or dead – you’d kill to sit down to dinner with.
Kanye West together with Donald Trump. My late grandfather. I was so fond of him and remember he was passionate talking about the news, but he passed away before I established my career in journalism. John Candy. I’d bring my sisters and we could quote lines from our favourite childhood movie “Uncle Buck” until we were crying with laughter.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Patience.

What qualities do you most value in a friend?
A sense of humour, humility and empathy.

What would you say is the most currently overlooked news story we should know about?
Small business lending. It’s being covered a bit, but think the extent to which the Royal Commission has adversely affected the loan environment for the small end of town is still playing out.

*Buy a book using the links provided and The Squiz may get a little commission.