What do you do and how long have you been in your current role?
I have worked at Somerset House since August 2010 and currently head up a growing all-women events team of nine, doubling the team since I started. We regularly host of some of the UK’s most culturally significant events, from public events in the courtyard such as film and theatre press night parties and live music to discreet high-profile boardroom dinners, al fresco drinks receptions and exhibitions.
Throughout my time at Somerset House, we have seen London Fashion Week become one of the most important runway events in the world, celebrating its ninth season at the venue this year.
Where was your first job? What was the most important thing you learnt there?
I trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama as a stage manager and worked for a decade on a wide variety of productions, from A Few Good Men and We Will Rock You right through to new writing with Hampstead Theatre, physical theatre from Frantic Assembly and three seasons at the wonderful Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. I would co-ordinate everything backstage, staying calm and problem solving as the show progressed. I still get a huge buzz from the smooth running of a live event in much the same way.
How did you get from there to where you are now?
My break in events came when I took a role as events co-ordinator at Dulwich Picture Gallery. As the sole events manager there, it was a steep learning curve, but my wide experience from theatre proved invaluable. Nearly four years ago, I joined Somerset House to gain some experience in a team environment, which, with a current team of nine, I am certainly doing.
Looking back, did you expect your career path to take the course it has?
I actually expected to stay in theatre, but the hours are long and it’s a hard lifestyle. You really have to love and adore theatre to work in that field. After a decade in the business, although I’d worked on some fantastic productions, I was falling out of love with it. That was when I decided to try a new career path and ventured into events.
Would you do anything differently?
Ultimately, it’s the decisions that I have made that have got me where I am today; therefore I wouldn’t do anything differently. Even the mistakes you make are things that you can learn from.
Who has inspired you along the way?
Charles Dance. He played C.S. Lewis in Shadowlands, the final show of my theatre career. He was the true description of a company leader and a true gentleman.
Have you ever had a job interview that went particularly well or spectacularly wrong?
An interview that went particularly well was one I had with the artistic director at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. I came to the interview and found that three separate people I had previously worked with had phoned him, asking him to hire me. Needless to say, his first impression of me was already pretty good and I got the job.
Is there a piece of career advice you've ever been told that has stuck with you?
Keep work things in work. For example, if you are lucky enough to get invited to a work-related event or an opening and are offered a plus one – bring someone from work rather than a friend or a partner.
What career advice would you give to your 21-year-old self?
You never know who is going to be important to you in the future. The people around you might end up being your boss or your client ten years down the line. Always work as professionally and hard as possible.
How do you wind down and relax after a hectic day?
I try to start the day in the gym to keep me motivated, and then at the end of the day I unwind with a glass of Malbec in Tom’s Kitchen with my close friend who works in another department at Somerset House. We allow ourselves to talk about work for one glass, but as a rule, the second glass is reserved for other subjects.
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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