What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been told in your career so far?
“Be proactive with your problem solving and when you raise an issue also suggest a solution, if possible.” Issues are a natural part of agency life, but if you can suggest solutions rather than just highlighting the problems, it always helps to resolve them more quickly and efficiently.
What is your favourite part of your job?
The variety. One day I’m working with one client on election planning, and the next I’m helping another spread anti-piracy messaging. No two clients are the same, so it really is a case of digging deep into the toolbox on a regular basis.
What has been your favourite experience at Portland so far?
Portland really is a global agency which shares work and tips across the whole business. Often it appears other agencies say they are global to win clients, but here it does really feel like we are a part of a bigger team.
What advice would you give your 20-year-old self starting out in comms, or to someone entering this field of work?
I’d tell myself to get out of journalism sooner and switch over. It was a fun job, but the opportunities and exposure communications can offer is so much wider. Also, I think I’d tell myself to try and identify how communications impacts the wider business earlier. Too many companies put comms into a box, and the sooner they embrace it, the better the results are.
What do you do to switch off from work?
I’m currently training to become a freediving instructor (a lockdown hobby I got a bit too much into), spending time with my dogs, and going to the pub with mates. Hopefully this year can be the year I escape Singapore for some long weekends!