Can you tell us a bit about your time at St Swithun’s? What are some of your fondest memories? 

I absolutely loved my time at St Swithun’s. Boarding school isn’t for everyone, but I was one of those who thrived in the busy, buzzing environment and made the most of everything the school had to offer – from tennis and lacrosse to music and drama. 

I have vivid memories of early-morning house lacrosse practice before breakfast and hours spent whacking tennis balls from the ball machine in the sports hall while Mrs Chown’s advice echoed around us. While I probably didn’t realise it at the time, the many choral evensongs at Winchester Cathedral instilled in me a deep love of church music and ecclesiastical architecture – which, in hindsight, explains my later choices of Durham and Vienna for university. 

I also made lifelong friends at St Swithun’s. We can go months or even years without seeing each other, yet when we do, it feels like no time has passed. I certainly wasn’t a model student – which made it all the more surprising (not least to my parents!) when I was appointed Head Girl. I don’t think I always made life easy for my teachers either. Poor Mr Strand endured endless torment from us putting books in the pianos, and Mr Brewer deserves a knighthood for getting me through Maths GCSE. But I was lucky to have firm yet nurturing support from Mrs Jarvis, my Hyde Abbey housemistress. Somebody clearly saw potential in me before I saw it in myself, and I’ll always be grateful for that. 

How do you think your education at St Swithun’s has shaped you? Were there specific experiences or teachers who had a lasting impact? 

St Swithun’s gave me a sense of independence, resilience, and ambition – qualities that have shaped my life ever since. I’d never have spoken another language without Mrs Lorge. She was utterly formidable in the classroom, but her steely determination brought out the very best in her pupils. When I was struggling with French A Level, she refused to give up on me. Thanks to her persistence, I got an A in my oral exam and later went on to work in France and Switzerland – opportunities I would never have had without her faith in me. 

What were your life and career aspirations as a teenager at St Swithun’s, and how did they evolve? 

In the early years, we all did one of those rudimentary “AI” career questionnaires, and my results came back with “fighter pilot” or “librarian” – which baffled me then and baffles me still! 

There was never any sense that we wouldn’t want to forge our own paths. St Swithun’s instilled in us both confidence and responsibility: we were expected to make the most of our education and encouraged to give back to society, which resonated strongly with me. I didn’t leave with a clear career path in mind, but having grown up around my parents’ art fairs, I was already fascinated by the art world – something that would shape my future direction. 

What inspired you to pursue a career in communications, and how did your journey begin? 

I’ve always loved organising, whether events or people. Even at school, I threw myself into running the leavers’ ball. My parents’ involvement in the art world meant I’d grown up surrounded by history, creativity and storytelling, so when someone suggested I consider Public Relations, it immediately clicked – even though, at the time, I had very little idea what PR actually was! 

I started at the very bottom, working as an office manager at an advertising agency, but my inability to make a decent cup of coffee saw me swiftly promoted into the PR team. From there, I was hooked. At 24, I was working on the Sydney Olympics campaign, coordinating interviews between major sports editors and medal-winning athletes. I organised a Guinness World Record for bubble blowing at West Ham United and spent several years working with David Beckham when he fronted Police sunglasses. It was intense, exhilarating, and exhausting – we worked hard and played harder. Five-hour “client lunches” were almost the norm… those were very different days! 

Could you tell us about some of the ups and downs along your career path? 

The PR world is full of big personalities, and you work with an extraordinary mix of characters. I’ve been lucky to work for inspiring leaders with huge integrity, but I’ve also encountered a few “Ab Fab” moments. I once got screamed at by the entertainment editor of the Daily Mail after they missed an RSVP deadline and were barred from an event – a formative reminder that not every crisis is yours to carry. 

What’s the best or worst piece of advice you’ve ever been given? 

One of my brilliant mentors told me: “Always hire people better than yourself.” That’s been invaluable throughout my career and has shaped the team I’ve built today.  My father’s advice has also stuck with me: “Be nice to everyone on the way up – because you’ll meet them all again on the way down.” He was right. Relationships are everything. 

What are the most important lessons you’ve learned that you’d pass on to the next generation? 

Self-awareness is a superpower. Knowing your strengths, but also recognising your weaknesses, is critical. When things don’t go my way, I’m the first to ask myself what I could have done differently. That ability to reflect honestly – and learn from mistakes – has been one of the most valuable skills I’ve developed. 

What does a typical workday look like for you? 

“Typical” is a bit of a stretch in PR! Post-Covid, I work a hybrid week, usually three to four days in London and one at home. Mondays are planning days, meeting with client teams and setting priorities for the week. 

Much of my time is spent meeting clients, editors, and potential collaborators. Evenings are often taken up with events or launches, but I try to limit these to two a week now. Fridays are my focus days – I use them for big-picture work: client strategy, campaign planning, thought leadership pieces, and presentations. 

I travel when needed, usually once a year to New York for the art fairs and a fortnight in the Netherlands for a major client event. Those trips are intense but hugely rewarding – and I always try to sneak in a museum visit under the guise of “professional development”! 

How do you manage work-life balance and stress? 

Experience teaches you perspective. When I was younger, I’d lose sleep over minor crises. These days, I’ve learnt not to sweat the small stuff. Parenthood has helped too — children are great levellers and have a brilliant way of reminding you what actually matters. 

What’s your favourite and most challenging part of your work? 

I love the diversity – one day I’m trying on priceless jewellery at a press event, the next I’m leading a strategic workshop. It’s no coincidence that my agency specialises in “investments of passion”: art, jewellery, fine wine, antiques. These are things I care about personally, which makes the work endlessly fascinating. 

The challenges tend to be the more mundane elements – budgets, spreadsheets, and endless reporting – but they’re all part of running a successful business. 

What personal or professional goals are you most excited about? 

On a personal level, I’ve recently moved back into my childhood home after a long renovation, and I’m loving reconnecting with the village where I grew up. 

Professionally, I’m focused on growth. There are exciting opportunities ahead – from expanding into new markets to exploring innovative ways of working – and I feel optimistic about the future. 

Do you have a funny or mischievous St Swithun’s story to share? 

As a weekly boarder, I discovered a loophole early on: if my parents dropped me in Winchester on a Sunday afternoon, I wasn’t technically “on school time” yet. I’d often persuade my mother to drop me at Winchester College instead, where we’d head to Charlie’s House for a bit of illicit underage drinking before heading back up the hill. We weren’t terribly rebellious – nobody got wildly drunk – but they were fun, carefree teenage moments. 

What advice would you give your younger self?
Mine would be: trust yourself more, take a few more risks, and remember that no career path is linear – and that’s perfectly fine. 

As published in the OGA Chain 2025.