TELL US ABOUT YOUR DAILY HABITS THAT KEEP YOU INSPIRED AND MOTIVATED.
I used to live by the mantra of ‘work hard and play harder’ when I was younger, but as I have progressed both in my career and with age I have realised that to be my best self both professionally and personally I have to prioritise sleep (I try for at least 8h a night), a balanced diet, daily exercise, daily meditation and manifestation and I block out specific time in my diary for these rituals. Having a dog has also meant that I have to get out and walk her twice a day, which means I get to be in nature and allow my mind to roam without the distractions of multiple screens.
LOOKING BACK AT YOUR CAREER JOURNEY, WHAT ARE YOU THE PROUDEST OF?
There are a lot of milestones in my career that I am proud of, but the two that really stand out are: firstly, building a highly successful in-house partnership and content production agency at ODEON Cinemas Group, which spanned across EMEA and USA territories and delivered a number of industry-firsts’. Secondly was my decision to venture out on my own 2 years ago, and launching my consultancy, Daiku, and just two weeks ago a second business called ‘Noisy Ventures’ which is a growth programme for purpose-driven businesses, looking to scale fast. I also have a podcast launching in July called ‘This is fkn forty’ which looks to redefine this decade for women, as being the best yet, and build a community for women to have honest conversations about work, health and relationships in their forties.
WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU ENCOUNTERED THROUGHOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP JOURNEY?
Striking a balance between work and my personal life. The two can easily get muddled and the higher you climb the leadership ladder the harder it can be to separate the two given the demands of the job on your time. It is so important to put in boundaries to protect your physical and mental health. I am still learning in this department!
HAVING A DEMANDING ROLE, HOW DO YOU BALANCE YOUR WORK AND PERSONAL LIFE?
Blocking time and putting boundaries in between work and my personal life. My non-negotiables are ensuring I have time in nature walking my dog every day, daily exercise and no screens an hour before bedtime to ensure I get a good night’s sleep. Without these I am not the best version of myself.
FROM YOUR CAREER OF 15 YEARS IN THE CINEMA INDUSTRY, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS HOLDING WOMEN BACK? WHY DO THEY STILL REMAIN UNDERREPRESENTED IN SENIOR POSITIONS IN THE CINEMA INDUSTRY?
Over the last 15 years I have witnessed a significant positive change in the number of women in leadership positions, however we are still very much the minority. I think more support needs to be given to women returning to work post having children, increased mentoring and an increase in the amount of educational support given in terms of professional development. Compared to other industries many exhibition companies do not prioritise leadership development and the corresponding budget to support this. I also believe that we need to use our collective voice more to push for these changes. If we don’t speak up for ourselves, who else will?
WHAT ARE THE CURRENT CHALLENGES FOR COMPANIES WHEN IT COMES TO ENSURING AN INCLUSIVE CULTURE AND AN INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP?
Ensuring an inclusive culture and leadership is challenging due to implicit biases, lack of diverse leadership, and resistance to change. Companies often provide inadequate training and struggle to measure inclusion effectively, risking tokenism. Cultural differences, communication barriers, and resource allocation issues add complexity. Accountability and intersectionality further complicate efforts. Strategies to overcome these challenges include comprehensive training, promoting diverse leaders, and developing inclusive policies. Supporting employee resource groups, inclusive decision-making, and transparent communication are crucial. Metrics and accountability ensure progress. Sustained commitment from all levels is essential, yielding benefits like increased innovation, employee satisfaction, and overall company performance.
AS AN EXPERIENCED MENTOR, WHY DO YOU THINK MENTORING IS IMPORTANT? DID YOU HAVE MENTORS ALONG THE WAY?
Mentoring is so important as it provides a safe space to discuss challenges and opportunities for growth from someone who has been there and lived to tell the tale. Having a different perspective to sound board against is also crucial, as well as providing a sense of community outside of your organisation. I have been lucky to have had some brilliant bosses who through their leadership style mentored me on a daily basis and I have also sought out mentors from outside the Industry through joining different creative communities, which I think is so important to gain a wider perspective.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
Work to live, don’t live to work.
Stay true to your values and morals.
Always trust your gut, it rarely fails you.