come from a BAME background. The accolades and awards mean that others can see it and believe it is possible for them too. I hope that it widens the door.
11. What is your leadership style and philosophy?
9. What advice would you give to a youngster embarking upon their own career today? I would quote my dad here – You have two ears and one mouth and use them in that proportion. Really listen so that you can learn and then speak up. Be interesting and interested, and network when you can. Magic can really happen when you connect different parts of your network. Every time you broaden your network and make it as diverse as possible, new opportunities can arise that can help you, your organisation and others. Most importantly though, never give up. You must be resilient. Things will not always go according to plan and that’s ok. Learn from it. Never say “I can’t”. Replace it with “I can’t….. yet”.
10. You’ve been awarded accolades for your success in business and your championing of diversity – how important are these to you? I want to create successful, vibrant businesses that win and grow. Attracting and retaining the right talent is key to this success. It’s a business imperative. The accolades and awards are always humbling, as I am simply doing my job. I know its important because I can help other women, ethnic minorities and those from a normal working-class background believe that success comes in all forms. In my industry only 8% of senior leaders
I work incredibly hard and I expect this from those who work with me. A good work ethic is paramount for me. My parents were first generation immigrants from Barbados and my work ethic derives from them. However, I do firmly believe in managing my work-life blend. Work is life and life is work and you need to know how to blend the two. I have a coaching style of leadership, and lead from the front, middle and behind moving between the different positions. Emotional Intelligence is also key. EQ is 7 times as important as IQ, hence I tend to gravitate towards those leaders where others will follow. Smart, focused and great people managers.
12. You have built an incredible career in some very large UK businesses, what would your advice be to smaller businesses and SMEs looking to grow? When I started at the agency that is now MediaCom, there were 65 people in one London office. Today, there are over 1,300 people at MediaCom operating in 5 U.K offices. To create growth, it starts with attracting and keeping the right people. Diverse, dynamic and creative people that can work as a team – build your Avengers Assemble. You need to develop an inclusive culture where people feel that they belong. Behaviours are as important as competencies.
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Collaborate. We have grown as MediaCom and as WPP through collaborating and working closely with other larger organisations. We formed and cultivated relationships that were mutually beneficial. When you are a smaller business, you have the ability act as a Skunkworks to the bigger organisation.
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