UNIC: Tell us about your daily habits that keep you inspired and motivated.
Allie: I am a big believer in the importance that both good habits and routines play into one’s personal and professional life. Especially during these past couple of years, my habits have helped me feel grounded and have provided a framework that has given me a daily sense of structure and purpose as well as offered a peace of mind that I was somewhat in control of my actions. My personal habits, which I cannot now live without, are primarily around my mental and physical health: for example, I work out every other morning (I find that feeling strong physically also helps with mental resilience!), try to cook home-made meals with my husband as many evenings as we can (that is also a perfect time to catch up and talk about our day) and I make sure I schedule time to relax (which usually consists of me just going to bed early!). On the professional side of things, some of the habits that I’ve developed have to do with being able to be consistent with my work and give myself simple daily goals, optimizing for efficiency and prioritizing what needs to get done versus what would be nice to get done. The trick I use to remain motivated and not fall in the procrastination trap is to set small achievable daily goals (3 to 5 maximum). By forcing myself to focus on top priorities first (and not setting an unattainable list of targets), I get to the end of each day having met my own expectations and feeling empowered to then do it all over again the next day.
UNIC: What is great leadership in your opinion?
Allie: This is one of the most difficult questions to answer as great leadership can be so many things! I do recognize, however, that there are some basic traits and general behaviours that I associate with all great leaders. To be a leader is not just to give instructions or directions for a specific outcome (that’s what cookbooks are for): it is to be able to share a vision in a clear way and inspire other people to find and use their own strengths to pursue whatever the goal is. It is to set and manage expectations and to give feedback. But above all, one of the biggest qualities of a great leader is to be able to pay attention, to see and listen, and to predict what the next problem is going to be before it’s clear to everyone else. And then do something about it.
UNIC: Looking back at your career journey so far, what are you most proud of?
Allie: Probably that I was able not to stick myself in a box, close it and just stay there. I’ve been able to keep an open mind, listen to my own thoughts, desires, ideas, and feelings in a way that has allowed me to explore avenues that I had never dreamed of. I think it’s absolutely key to not fall in the trap of labelling yourself as one particular thing and identifying solely in a particular title or role because that is the end of the evolution of one’s career. There was a time when I identified myself with what I thought I wanted to be. It took me some time to realize I wasn’t happy, and I needed to free myself from my own image of “my dream”. The truth was that my priorities in life had changed but I wasn’t allowing myself to change. When I finally found the courage to take a step back, stop and think about what I really wanted at that time from my career, I was able to open new doors and evolve.
UNIC: What were the most important leadership lessons that you learned while climbing the career ladder?
Allie: Some of the main lessons I have learned include: 1. State what the priorities are. We all think of priorities in different ways and what might constitute a clear urgent priority for me, might not be the same for someone else. 2. Do not hold grudges. It doesn’t help anyone, if anything it’s a hinderance for you since you are the one still harbouring negative feelings. 3. Answer questions, whether you know the answer or not. Ignoring a request makes everyone feel confused and only leads to dissatisfaction. I think communication is something we all need to be better at.
UNIC: What has been the biggest challenge for you as a woman leader in the sector?
Allie: I have always been very lucky in that I never felt that being a woman in this industry was a challenge in itself: I have been able to do my job and to be recognised in the right way by either my peers or superiors. The one thing which probably has been true for me though was the consequence of lack of representation. The fact that I haven’t felt represented at higher levels has resulted in not being aware of the possibilities that were there for me because I wasn’t sure I could get there myself. When you look up and all you see is one particular type of person in power, you immediately (and wrongly) assume that is not available to you and you may not take the leap, thinking there would be no space in the room for you. That is why groups and programs such as this are so valuable: connecting women and showing that a broader and more diverse leadership across our industry exists, creates a bright picture and gives a sense of possibility and scope.
UNIC: Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently?
Allie: I would have planned less! For so many years, I have been trying to plan every single move that would take me from this step, to the next, and the next, all the way down the line to 5 or 10 years into the future. My thinking was: “if I do this, I will then be able to achieve that, and then move on to that, which will naturally evolve into that, etc”. I look at that now and I laugh! The combination of my life experiences so far and, even more so, the events of the past two years have proven that is not a good strategy – or rather, it’s a great strategy to set oneself up to missed expectations and disappointment (which is the perfect recipe for unhappiness in life. In “Solve for Happy” author Mo Gawdat clearly proves that happiness = expectations – reality!). The truth is, it’s never going to turn out how you think it will. If I could just look back, I would tell myself to relax and to enjoy each step of the way instead of trying to track and chart every potential result and outcome. Not only the world is going to change around you, but you’re also going to change, and you need to be able to have the mental flexibility to recognise that and potentially change your mind.
UNIC: You were a mentee in the UNIC Women's Cinema Leadership Programme. How was that experience for you?
Allie: Being part of the mentoring programme was absolutely an incredible experience. I felt I had someone I could share my experience with completely and transparently and felt heard and understood at a level which I’ve never quite got in the past. It’s also nice to be able to dispel the myth of women not helping women: I’ve only felt love, support, and encouragement from both my mentor and the whole group. Feeling part of this community has been an absolute game changer for me and I would recommend any one to take part. It is so important to be able to find your tribe and feel a sense of belonging. I have definitely found mine!
UNIC: What is the best advice you’ve received from your mentor?
Allie: I think the two main takeaways for me were: number one, know what you know and show what you know. Don’t be afraid of own your knowledge and expertise. You are a professional and you and your opinions matter because your experience matters. I felt like there was still so much that I needed to learn before deserving a seat at the table. And while it’s important to forever remain curious and continue learning (we can’t know it all!), it’s also crucial to trust your own intelligence and knowledge. And number two, remember that your work is in service of your life and not the other way around. I have always taken pride in the fact that I take work extremely personally: I love what I do. However, work is also, well, just work and it’s okay to prioritize one’s personal life over it. It took me a while to come to terms with this and not be riddled with guilt. I can still love my job and lead a fulfilling personal life at the same time.
UNIC: What has changed for you since participating in the programme?
Allie: Since joining the programme, I have been able to find my own voice, stand up for myself, and grow within my role. At the start of 2020, I received a promotion and have been confidently taking on more responsibilities since then as well. I know it may sound a bit corny and trite, but this group is so inspiring, and it has really motivated me to find my own place in this industry.
UNIC: What would you recommend to current mentors and mentees?
Allie: One of the most important things going into the programme is to try and delineate clear goals and specific objectives not just for the full year (for example, “I want to find the confidence to work towards and ask for a promotion”), but also for each individual session. Think of it just like you would be thinking about a work project: you would set achievable targets and expectations for the project and for each meeting you would need to have an agenda to move the needle forward each time. I’ve seen other mentors and mentees not getting the best out of the programme when it was left more up to chance, and it wasn’t as structured. These are not just casual conversations between friends (and don’t get me wrong, outside of these sessions, you can absolutely find the time to develop a more friendly rapport with your mentor. I’ve been able to spend quality time with my mentor outside of the designated sessions and we always had a blast!). However, for the main monthly meetings make sure there is a structure otherwise it will just feel like a waste of time for both of you.