What has your journey to Edelman looked like and how did you get into the communications industry?
There was no great plan, or clear career mapped out since childhood, and I was one of the few in my year who didn’t go to university. I just knew I was interested in TV, media, journalism, but it was so hard to get a break - I found myself in a support role at PR agency Burson Marsteller, and never looked back. I got all the excitement of working with media, and on creative campaigns, just in a different context. I got lucky, I worked for a great leader who gave me my first opportunity to move into a client facing comms role, without any experience, just a passion and drive to prove I could succeed. That was more than twenty years ago, I still can’t believe it’s that long ago, and although my career has taken me across different corporate affairs roles in-house and in agency, it is all rooted in the belief that anything is possible through great communication and engagement.
What excites you most about your role as Managing Director, Global Health Sector and Head of Corporate Health UK?
I have the best of both worlds, I get to work with our Global Health Sector leadership on strategy and direction for our Health business around the world, as well as being part of a super impressive UK team, and further building on exciting new areas of health work through a corporate lens. Watch this space!
How do you see the team developing over the next three years?
The world is our oyster. Post-pandemic there is such a heightened awareness of and interest in all things health, and there are really critical issues we need to address, whether that be equal access to care and treatment, transforming the way health is delivered or celebrating the important role that businesses can play in supporting good health of people, planet and economies. I’d love to see us grow the team and our work beyond the more traditional briefs and really challenging ourselves and our clients to think and act differently in the world. Imagine what is possible through bold and decisive action on our most pressing health and climate challenges, and through innovative new engagement approaches in an ‘always on’ world.
What is the importance of the role of trust in the health ecosystem, and where are the opportunities for business?
You simply don’t have license to operate in health without trust. Its very easily lost and so much harder to earn, I can’t think of many areas where trust is more important. Businesses have a huge opportunity to take action that earns trust in the world, and employers have a huge opportunity to be a trusted voice for their employees and the communities they operate in.
What do you do outside of work to relax?
Right now, my time away from work is very focused on my family. I have two teenagers, India (15) & Freddy (13), and I feel acutely aware that given the wonderful, independent beings they are becoming, they will be off having their own adventures before I know it. So, when they are not in their rooms or out with friends, I’m generally hanging out with them, or our dog. If I find time beyond that, I love going for walks and a spot of yoga.
What advice would you give someone considering a role at Edelman?
The world of Edelman can give you so many great opportunities. I am daily impressed by the smart people I get to work with, the exciting client work we get the opportunity to work on. We work with the world’s biggest and best-known brands, and as a company are on a mission to have positive impact on some of society’s biggest challenges through the work we do with our clients. In my experience, passion, commitment and drive, and a great team spirit are all you need!
How do you stay motivated?
I get inspired and excited about the potential to affect change on things that matter, it’s how I found myself specialising in health communications. So, I definitely look for opportunities that keep me and teams I work with motivated because we share a sense of purpose and care about what we are doing. Being part of a team, where you all support each other through good days and bad is also a huge source of motivation for me.
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