What do you do and how long have you been in your current role?
I am a director at Oasis Events, a specialist event hire business based in the Cotswolds. We transform the interior of venues and marquees, and hire boutique tents. I have been in the business since 2003; my particular focus is sales and marketing and I take care of HR matters.
The company began with half a dozen imported Bedouin tents and in those days I was often involved hands-on installing them. We have developed enormously since those early days: for one of our most recent projects we sent a specialist team to fit out the interior of a spectacular marquee in Moscow for a new year’s eve party.
Where was your first job? What was the most important thing you learnt there?
After my psychology degree at Edinburgh University I began my career in events as a project co-ordinator at Jack Morton Worldwide in London. I then became a live event producer and subsequently moved on to Oasis after several years cutting my teeth in the corporate world.
The most important thing I learned was to manage my time. Our head of production spelled it out for me in my first week at Jack Morton. Prioritisation and juggling internal and external requests was a key skill for a junior team member on corporate events. It has turned out to be a key life skill, not just at work and one I keep having to work on.
How did you get from there to where you are now?
A desire to carve my own destiny led me to dip my toe into what was then my mother’s business, Oasis Specialist Tent Hire, with a view to taking it on fully and developing it which I did, along with husband Mark, in 2008. It took a huge leap of faith to leave an exciting career path in a London-based events company, but the attractions of a country lifestyle played a big part in it too. It turns out there is success to be had in events beyond Greater London.
Looking back, did you expect your career path to take the course it has?
I was adamant that my own business would be built upon my own idea, but it turns out I am a better implementer than I am an ideas person, so taking on a company founded by my mother has worked out well. Mark, who is also an Edinburgh University psychology graduate, joined me in Oasis after six years in IBM’s management consultancy division and is very much our ideas man and strategist. I am all about processes, people, and clients. Looking back I don’t see how it could have gone any other way.
Would you do anything differently?
Oh yes. More time working abroad perhaps, enjoying life in the sun, but there’s only so much you can fit in and every stage of development at Oasis has been exciting, satisfying and very educational, so no regrets.
Who has inspired you along the way?
Long before Oasis my folks’ home-grown events were legendary amongst friends and family. Without a doubt my early years helping put them together had an influence on my aspirations and my skills. I was lucky to grow up in a family driven by the desire to be self-sufficient in work, which still inspires me daily. In the events world, all the senior people at Jack Morton were a professional inspiration, and made time to develop the younger generation.
Have you ever had a job interview that went particularly well or spectacularly wrong?
My only interview was for my application to Jack Morton (then Caribiner) in 1999. I’m embarrassed to say I swore, saying I wanted to "make sh*t happen," however, I got the job. I guess Mark Wallace got the impression I meant it. Ever since, I have been interviewing other people, and can safely say I would be extremely nervous if I ever had to go to an interview again. It’s also a fact that as an interviewer, picking the right candidate is much harder than it might seem.
Is there a piece of career advice that has stuck with you?
In one-off events you are only as good as your last piece of work/project, and it’s all about the long game rather than the short-term wins so treasure your team and look after your clients. Also a good professional reputation is priceless, so take care of it.
What career advice would you give to your 21-year-old self?
To enjoy every moment of learning in a new industry or role. Having mentors and senior people surrounding you is a privilege and should be savoured. Leading events and running a business has a few perks, but can be very exposed without that kind of support around you.
How do you wind down and relax after a hectic day?
There is no such thing as a typical week day. With twin five-year-old boys, our clients and a small business to run, knowing that everything is ready for another day is its own form of relaxation. If there isn’t a box set to watch after supper, to which I am unhealthily addicted, then I turn to some low-brow fiction-reading to decompress before getting as much sleep as possible.
Friends, family and good food and drink in my free time are a staple. The consequent need to spend time in the gym is very good for clearing the head too.
Want to share your career story with us as part of the ? Email news editor Samantha Edwards to feature in a future How I Got Here.
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