Talk us through an average day in your role
I have a split role which covers both commercial management and leadership, as well as general management of all aspects of our UK operations. This necessitates that I allocate time equitably between both roles. There are challenges in both and I need to get myself in the right headspace, so generally I scan emails and messages over coffee and I then hit the gym at around 6:30 for an hour or so – I find this wakes me up and gets me set up for the day. I’m in the office by 8:30 and immediate-action messages are managed first.
The nature of our business is very dynamic so planning an average day is pretty much impossible – so I prioritise the day based on what we have in play. Client outreach is critical to any business and I prioritise that above everything else. This is not just virtual but physical and I encourage my colleagues within our organisational structure to do the same. Nothing beats a personal touch and face to face meetings and catch-ups.
My days change massively and there is not an average day in our business.
How did you get started in the media industry?
A healthy dose of luck got me into the industry! We all need luck. My early career started in His Majesty’s Armed Forces of the UK where I served in the British Army, and in particular, the Royal Corp of Signals. Here I trained as a systems technician and attained my diploma in electronic engineering.
I left the Army in 1997 with no particular plans and was incredibly lucky that a well-known financial news network was employing a lot of veterans with relevant skills, training them in a revolutionary new networking technology called TCP-IP and using them to deploy cutting edge infrastructures for the delivery of rich media and data related to the financial markets. I was lucky enough to be one of those people. I owe a lot to that company and the leaders within it for the faith they put in me and a good number of other veterans.
The rest is kind of history. Someone gave me a shot and I was in the right place at the right time. The skills I learnt and the work ethic instilled in me set me up for life.
What training did you have before entering the industry?
I received a diploma for electronic engineering in the British Army with a focus on telephony and package switched networks. Anybody remember X.25, Frame Relay, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)?
Why do you enjoy working in the industry?
I don’t enjoy working in the industry, I love it! I love the pace, I love the multiplicity of opportunities, and I love the diversity of the folks you get to meet, work and socialise with. I love the creativity and as I get older, I really enjoy working with younger folk and experiencing their perspectives and the way they go about solving problems. I have learned a lot from people much younger than me.
The innovation in our industry is breathtaking and being a part of this is humbling and incredibly satisfying.
What piece of advice would you offer someone looking to explore a role similar to yours?
Be humble. You are not the smartest person in the room. Trust your team. Encourage initiative. Get in the weeds every now and again. Every day is a learning day. Listen!
