SISTERHOOD WORKS
GALA GORDON Platform Presents is an initiative that celebrates young talent, with a particular interest in female voices. Inspirational, female-led production companies in the industry like Margot Robbie’s and Reese Witherspoon’s, are championing female-lead stories, so it’s an incredibly exciting time to be taking control and making a difference. Isabella and I met after a screening of Oliver Stone’s film Snowden. We immediately clicked over how passionate we both are about theatre, film and television, and straight away swapped numbers. A month and a half later, I could have called anyone in my phone book, but I called her. I had the idea for a long time about wanting to start a company that champions rising stars. I felt like there was a gap in the market for a venture with that ethos and, after that initial meeting, Platform Presents was born. Coming from different backgrounds - me as an actress, Isabella as a producer - has only strengthened and increased our opportunities. The combination works well as we approach things differently and constantly learn from one another. It also means we have lots of different contacts within the industry, which now becomes one big mutual pool that we draw from. There have been so many benefits to being in a partnership. You’re bouncing off each other’s energy all the time, constantly learning from each other and laughing; but the real joy is that you go into everything together. You experience the journey together and you always know that somebody else has your back. There’s nothing like a woman understanding a woman. You just get each other. My favourite memory from working together was when we produced Blueberry Toast by Mary Laws at Soho Theatre. I was playing the role of Barb, who had to murder her husband on stage every night. Isabella set up her office in my dressing room to support me and make sure she was across any changes. I don’t know any other producers that would give that incredible level of support. Being an actress definitely teaches you resilience - there’s constant rejection to contend with. Isabella says
interchangeable. We don’t take on something wonderful which is that anything completely alone. Instead, “the worst anyone can say is no”. She’s we divide and conquer on all definitely taught me over the past two responsibilities across projects, which years that things don’t have to be means we can go into those difficult done as they were before. My advice conversations together. for entrepreneurs would be to I know some cobe persistent and founders struggle enthusiastic. Find as when they disagree many opportunities on a topic, but as you can to meet Gala and I are people who are Gala and Isabella’s top very discursive – we creating - it will pay off. tips for future co-founders always come to an considering working agreement. We’re ISABELLA together also very lucky in that MACPHERSON we have exactly the I have set up a few BRANCH OUT same taste in writing, companies and there’s “Break away from the fear of the and both want to g no golden rule to unknown, and approach people ive a platform to finding the perfect coyou haven’t worked with before female voices. founder. What is key is but would like to. I didn’t know We also share to seek out someone Gala before we set up Platform a love of dark comedy with your work ethic, Presents, but it works. that has a serious values, and if, like us, After all, nothing ventured, message. so there’s you’re working on nothing gained.” never been any creative projects, the Isabella divergence over what same creative vision. to produce. When you work with ESTABLISH WORK ETHIC My advice to someone one-on-one “Running a business is hard anyone thinking of you very quickly learn work. Good communication and setting up a new what they are like. The the desire to share the workload venture is to embrace key is to see how equally is key, so establish this what you don’t they respond under before you take the plunge.” already know - face it pressure, as there will Gala head on and ask be many stressful questions. If you moments. Gala is MUTUAL PASSION then want to do extraordinary - she’s “Gala and I have a mutual things differently, do. driven, enthusiastic, passion and vision for this A friend, entrepreneur proactive and has a venture. If you both know what and author Sahar great sense of humour, you want to achieve and are on Hashemi, coined the no matter what. the same creative road, you’re phrase “the power As a single founder, more likely to succeed.” of cluelessness” – one of the hardest Isabella you’re perfectly things you have to capable of learning deal with is facing TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS on the journey. I’ve challenges on your “Follow your gut and trust your been in boardrooms own. A lot of female instinct - you know when you full of men in suits founders I know find this isolating. Having a click with someone. Co-founding where no one dares a business is like a marriage: asks questions. But partner in crime works when it’s a real success, you the ability to pose well; there’s always a will have it forever.” frank questions is sounding board on Gala vital to learning and hand to discuss issues, testing new ways of explore different points working. If you and your co-founder of view and find the best solution. Two can’t have those uncomfortable heads really are better than one. conversations now, you won’t be able to What’s more, working together in the future. makes the job so much more dynamic and interesting. Ours is a shared platformpresents.com entrepreneurialism, and our roles are
FIND YOUR MATCH
allbrightcollective.com
THE POWER OF TWO KW.indd 63
63
23/09/2019 02:34