Margaret Thatcher's upbringing had a formative influence on her career, particularly her background in a conservative family and her education at Somerville College, Oxford. Her father was a local businessman and a methodist preacher, instilling in her a sense of hard work and self-discipline. Thatcher's involvement in politics began while studying chemistry, where she developed a strong sense of individualism and belief in free markets. These experiences shaped her views on governance and economics, leading to her eventual rise as the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, where she implemented significant economic reforms.