I have worked here for many, many years. Unbelievably, almost twenty in fact.
I was attracted to this particular role because owning a business is a part of who I am. I started my first business before I was 10, then another when I was 18 that won a ‘Best of Small Businesses’ award. I then engineered buying this company when I was 21.
Not many people know that I like Barbara Streisand. Yes I know, totally 'un-current'. One of the good things that comes with getting older is that other people’s opinions matter less.
My worst experience at an event was very early on in my career, my first week at the agency in fact. I was out with a client on a go-see when one of the brand ambassadors failed to arrive. I enthusiastically offered to step in and only then discovered that the uniform was hot pants and not much more. The industry was quite unregulated back then. This drove me to set rather higher standards and ensure our staffing offering became an industry best.
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt it’s that youth brings passion and energy. Vital components of course, but there’s nothing quite like experience.
The best event I’ve been involved in was my wedding, planned to the nth degree. A true once in a lifetime experience, especially for many of our British family and friends as we chartered a private jet and flew off into the sunset (sunrise in fact) for a safari weekend of OTT fun.
If I could do it all over again I would work on a Mac rather than a PC - far more creative. There’s still plenty of time to change though.
The one thing I can’t stand is prima donnas and office politics. We work in far too fast-paced an environment to accommodate time wasters.
Outside of work I cherish being mummy to my toddler Luke and baby Scarlett. Admittedly after an hour or so of play, I'm eager to rush back to the office. My nanny is right up there in terms of people I admire. I think it takes a very special kind of person to voluntarily look after someone else's children.
If money were no object I would be more philanthropic. Growing up in South Africa meant I saw the effects of poverty almost daily and very early on 'giving back' became a part of my DNA.
The one event I will never miss is my Birthday. The perfect excuse to overindulge.
The recession has meant that clients have been more receptive to the world of experience. Experiential marketing is measurable and unlike some of its media counterparts you can readily see the immediate return activations deliver to a brand’s bottom line. We’re commercial in our approach and therefore the recession has created more opportunities for us to have grown-up conversations with brands.
The next 12 months will be one of big changes. Watch this space.
If I could switch places with anyone else in the industry it would be with my husband's best mate Dave Lewis who is unquestionably one of Unilever’s top success stories. Dave is a phenomenal father, a true friend and clearly exceptionally skilled at what he does for a living.
If I ruled the event industry I would offer the role to someone else. My 30’s has taught me that life has to have balance to be enjoyed.
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