TELL US ABOUT YOUR DAILY HABITS THAT KEEP YOU INSPIRED AND MOTIVATED.
Even after all these years, I'm still excited to see the latest box office results! Having an up-to-date overview of worldwide industry issues and trends is great background for my presentations and reports, so I make sure to read the relevant email newsletters and trade websites.
LOOKING BACK AT YOUR CAREER JOURNEY, WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?
I've just celebrated my 20th anniversary in my current job, which seems pretty unusual nowadays. I've had several roles and the company has changed hands a few times, so my job has evolved over this time and I've had to be flexible about responsibilities and working with different management teams. I feel I've had a lot of autonomy throughout my career which has really suited my personality.
WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU ENCOUNTERED THROUGHOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP JOURNEY, AND HOW DID YOU NAVIGATE THEM? DID YOU HAVE ANY MENTORS ALONG THE WAY?
The flipside of having autonomy is that you can sometimes feel a little unsupported, I've definitely had to push for more feedback. The switch from having a manager in the same office to a manager in a different country was a challenge, I missed the regular interaction. I've never had a mentor but I've learned a lot from how different management styles made me feel as an employee, which I try to apply now I'm a team leader.
GIVEN THE DEMANDS OF YOUR ROLE, HOW DO YOU BALANCE YOUR WORK AND PERSONAL LIFE? WHAT STRATEGIES OR BOUNDARIES HAVE YOU FOUND MOST EFFECTIVE?
I work a really blended schedule, rather than aiming for strict work/life balance. Cinema is such a round-the-clock business, I balance the evening and weekend demands by being flexible where I can during the week. Since the pandemic we've opted for two days a week in the office and three days WFH, which is also flexible depending on events each week. I'm really pragmatic about getting things done without clock-watching for myself and my team, it's a very trusting environment.
WITH 20 YEARS' EXPERIENCE IN THE CINEMA INDUSTRY, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS HOLDING WOMEN BACK, AND WHAT DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO CHANGE FOR BETTER REPRESENTATION AND INCLUSION?
I'm not a parent but I can see how family responsibilities often come into play during a key professional period, with the timing of children coinciding with the opportunity to step into a management role. However I think this has changed since 20 years ago, as I see dads choosing to be more involved, so I hope we'll see the impact on women's careers reduce in future as the load is more equally shared.
Visibility is important; I still see panels at conferences with only men on stage, or just one woman, and it's disappointing.
YOU WERE A MENTOR IN THE 6TH EDITION OF THE UNIC WOMEN'S CINEMA LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME. WHAT HAS THAT EXPERIENCE BEEN LIKE FOR YOU?
Like the other mentors you've interviewed, I had such a positive experience. Taking a step back from day-to-day work and spending time with someone at a different life stage, and in a different role, is really refreshing. It's easy to overlook the impact of taking time just to talk, without an urgent agenda or objective. I found it very energising.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE CURRENT MENTORS AND MENTEES?
I'd say go with the flow, a lot can change over the course of a year so be flexible about goals or topics. As mentors, I think we feel pressure to impart some great wisdom, but the value is in following the process - dedicating time to each other.