To celebrate International Women’s Day 2024, we took a moment to connect with the incredible women who make our London office a thriving hub of talent and inspiration. With our UK team being made up of 51% women and, at a leadership level, 55%, we wanted to delve into the stories of these remarkable ladies. Let’s take a look at what they shared.
Lucy Doubleday
Managing Partner
Who is your work role model?
That’s tough. I don’t think I can choose one person. I would have to say a blend of so many fab women here: Kate Corrie’s focus, Emma Pinkus’ organisational skills, Katie Hoy’s poker face, Lucy Fuller’s style, Jenni Smit’s creativity, and Zoe Cooke’s brain – cliche but we really have the best group of women I’ve ever worked with at We Are Social.
What are your tips for managing work/life balance?
As a working parent life is a constant juggle and daily highs, lows and frustrations. I love a list. Writing my to-do list is always therapeutic. I also get up very early for a moment of peace. Set yourself boundaries and recognise when you need help. Celebrate the wins, no matter how small.
What is the achievement you are most proud of?
That I’ve been lucky enough to have a career in the creative industry, and I’m able to share my experience with others. There are far worse jobs out there.
What advice would you give tomorrow’s female leaders?
Surround yourself with good people, people that you really trust and value their opinion. If you’re stuck it’s ok to ask for help.
What are your tips for managing work/life balance?
Find what works for you, for example, hiking, running, meditation. Then, set a goal and make sure you’re doing that thing at least 3 or 4 times a week.
What is the achievement you are most proud of?
Creating a campaign to advocate for more awareness around endometriosis, ‘Let’s Endo The Silence‘ which picked up a lot of PR attention.
Who is your favourite female creator on social?
It’s a profile called The Female Lead. It’s a community-led movement with a mission to empower women and girls by breaking the societal cycle or gender roles. They talk about important issues and shine a light on influential women – and I am ALL for it.
Sarah Hecks,
Head of Editorial
Who is your work role model?
Charlie Cottrell! The OG.
What are your tips for managing work/life balance?
Still a work in progress…
What is the achievement you are most proud of?
I won the WACL Future Leaders Award back in the day. That and setting up a social enterprise. Sadly Covid hit and killed it but it was a hella lot of work to create a viable product and get it to market – it was overwhelming and something I was pretty clueless about, and blew my mind the hours it took to get it up and running.
What advice would you give tomorrow’s female leaders?
Speak your truth, even if your voice shakes.
Who is your favourite female creator on social?
Waaaaaaay too many incredible women to choose just one. It’s just empowering to see so many confident voices having their say and filling my fyp.
Sandy Kaushik,
Social Content Producer
Who is your work role model?
Lauren Marlow!
What are your tips for managing work/life balance?
I make sure to chat to the best Project Managers in the world to help prioritise my workload each day, to make sure I’m not overloading myself and having to work after hours or catch up on the weekend.
What is the achievement you are most proud of?
Working with a fab team of girls who uplift each other and support each other creatively.
My Grandmother, she set up her own small business and ran it until the age of 82.
What are your tips for managing work/life balance?
Set boundaries and stick to them. I have two young children, one in reception and one still at nursery. I make sure that when I pick them up or I walk in the door my full attention is on them. If I need to log back on when they’re asleep I do but I try to make sure I’m present and not distracted for that time before bed. It’s so easy to sink into the habit of trying to juggle both and do neither that well. I try to make sure it’s the exception when something is critical or we have a key deadline, rather than the norm.
What is the achievement you are most proud of?
Balancing a demanding job alongside a family.
What advice would you give tomorrow’s female leaders?
Build a female support network at work. Find people that you can talk openly to and seek advice from. It’s also important to make sure that your role models are rea and authentic – people who are great leaders but who also show you their real self, some of the behind the scenes. Those people are truly inspirational.
Who is your favourite female creator on social?
This changes so frequently but at the moment Natalie Brown.
Thank you to everyone that contributed and to Aimee Jacobs for this year’s International Women’s Day designs.Make sure to keep an eye out for more from our female team members on our social channels throughout March.
