Meet the Connectors

Caroline Jennings

Marketing and Communications Director, Cadogan

What’s a great piece of helpful career advice you’ve been given, that you’d pass onto others?

One piece of advice that’s really stuck out recently was from the amazing Anya Hindmarch in her book If In Doubt, Wash Your Hair. It's that fear and excitement are the same emotion and you have the power which to feel when facing a demanding board or on the brink of a big event, along with a couple of handy tips on how to flick the switch between the two.

What moment in your current job really cemented your passion for what you do?

A major part of my role is creating initiatives (events, platforms, publications) that benefit the community, attract participation from as many partners as possible and drive profile, footfall and spend to the neighbourhood. The carnival atmosphere during last year’s ‘Chelsea in Bloom’ and Jubilee fortnight was next level – over 100 local businesses participating, jaw-dropping floral installations celebrating our ‘British Icons’ theme (from the Queen, of course, to Vivienne Westwood, Shakespeare, Banksy and the Mini Cooper), social media and press coverage ablaze (opening with This Morning and closing with Good Morning America), the highest footfall ever recorded. It was a complete joy to see the benefits it brings for the neighbourhood, everyone really came together to create something exceptional and it was a privilege to be in the driving seat.

What professional achievement have you been most proud of over the past year?

Cadogan’s award for ‘Best Covid Response’ from Property Week and being shortlisted for Estates Gazette’s ‘UK Company’. We’re a small business, so it feels great to achieve the recognition deserved by the brilliant team here.

What is a key professional goal you’ve set for yourself over the coming year?

To get stuck back into training and learning on digital innovation in particular – the levels of engagement, data and insight achievable through digital and social platforms is so vast and constantly changing. I’d like to refresh and ensure that we’re really balancing our investment into the right platforms. Instagram is undoubtedly still the priority for destination marketing, but is Twitter really dying and Tik Tok accelerating as fast as predicted? Ensuring our creative content strategy is as strong as possible to fuel all channels.

And working with our Head of Sustainability to launch our first social impact report, building on the Chelsea 2030 strategy.

Personally, what highlight is on the horizon for 2023?

Honestly, it sounds boring, but just planning lots of time with friends and family after the rollercoaster ride of Covid.

cadogan.co.uk

Laura Dove

Chief Operating Officer, AllBright

What’s a great piece of helpful career advice you’ve been given, that you’d pass onto others? 

As restaurateur Jeremy King said: "Show up and be present". You won’t learn about your team or your consumers by sitting behind the desk. You need to experience what they experience to properly understand how your business and culture is perceived.

What moment in your current job really cemented your passion for what you do?

It’s the stories I hear every day. A member who has been promoted to CEO, a start-up raising capital; all through our network. I take calls from India to Saudi of women who are keen to have AllBright representation in their cities. To feel we are just at the beginning of this very important journey is inspirational.

What professional achievement have you been most proud of over the past year?

We have been able to grow our community by more than 18,000 members this year. To know that what we do provides support drives us all on a daily basis, especially during the challenging times.

What is a key professional goal you’ve set for yourself over the coming year?

Most excitedly, looking to take AllBright to six cities around the world for our 3-day events called ‘Step Forward’ where we will help and inspire career ambitious women within their own communities. Cities this year include Sydney, Singapore, Dubai, New York and Los Angeles.

Personally, what highlight is on the horizon for 2023?

Travel is definitely back on the top of the list. Visiting some old favourite cities as well as new ones. Milestone family birthdays of 100 years old. Getting my pilot's license for recreation.

allbrightcollective.com

Carey Weeks

Director of Partnerships, The Jockey Club

What’s a great piece of helpful career advice you’ve been given, that you’d pass onto others?

My grandfather always said: "If you pursue the things you love, you will work with passion and you’ll always be successful". I’m also a firm believer that theory can teach you a little, practice can teach you a lot, but mistakes along the way is where the real growth lies, so never be afraid to make them!

What moment in your current job really cemented your passion for what you do?

Building a new brand activation at The Cheltenham Festival called The Orchard, creating an unrivalled luxury brand experience in sport and allowing racegoers the opportunity to experience all the best racing action whilst browsing (and purchasing!) from amazing brands such as Boodles, Bentley and Fitzdares.

What professional achievement have you been most proud of over the past year?

Restructuring a team that are individually experts in their field, but collectively promote the development of each and every one of us.

What is a key professional goal you’ve set for yourself over the coming year?

To spend more time in our clients' shoes, really understanding their trajectory over the next few years and how we can best support them, especially when it comes to broadening and captivating their audience through racing.

Personally, what highlight is on the horizon for 2023?

Throwing my husband a surprise 40th. He's refused to have a party since he was 6 years old, so I hope it will be a highlight!

thejockeyclub.co.uk

Dorota Gwilliam

Global Director, Luxury & Weekend, FT

What’s a great piece of helpful career advice you’ve been given, that you’d pass onto others?

The harder you work, the luckier you get. There is some debate over who first said this, but something similar was said by South African golfer Gary Player in 2002 (the original quote was “The harder I practise, the luckier I get"). An old boss shared it with me and it hasn’t left me since.

Behind what looks like sudden success is often years of work, trial and error, and failures. But the harder you work, the more chances you create for yourself and for the people around you.

What moment in your current job really cemented your passion for what you do?

The FT always leads with a reader-first policy that reflects its reputation for integrity. From a commercial perspective this can present challenges as we seek to constantly drive innovation while also respecting our editorial standards.

I feel enormously proud of the wide range of impactful print and digital executions that we have been able to provide to luxury brands, many of which have happened for the first time in our 130-year history. They have cemented my passion for this organisation, its core values and its willingness to innovate even as it retains its scrupulous standards. It also brought an even stronger appreciation for luxury advertising with its stunningly big, bold and beautiful creatives. Nothing represents this better than the first-ever global wrap of the FT distributed across our entire global circulation.

What professional achievement have you been most proud of over the past year?

I will always remember 2022 as the year that the luxury team, operating within the ‘new normal’, prospered to such enormous heights. Building a team takes a great deal of thought and care, and is as much about talent and experience as it is about spirit and shared values. With the backdrop of remote working, maintaining that culture was paramount.

As I reflect on 2022, I am most proud and inspired by the incredible team culture that we have built. I have witnessed such camaraderie, the growth of real friendships, and a great kindness coupled with a work ethic that is second to none. It is a culture that we have cultivated based on a set of core values that bind us – whether it’s trust and transparency with one another, or a sense of pride in what we do – that I feel incredibly proud to be part of and it is part of the FT’s DNA.

What is a key professional goal you’ve set for yourself over the coming year?

In a meeting recently, I heard the phrase ‘the floor is liquid lava.’ It reminded me of just how uncertain the next 12 months are set to be and how we simply don’t know what challenges the year will present. As I look ahead, I want to continue positioning the team to help our partners navigate these uncertain times. My hope is that we will continue to build even stronger collaborative partnerships that leverage the FT’s expertise and influence, in order to further strengthen the position of our partners in the luxury market in 2023 and beyond. Even if it has nothing to do with advertising I would very much like us to help in any way that I can!

Personally, what highlight is on the horizon for 2023?

One of my goals for 2022 was to fill a vase with flowers that I had grown from seed. I will admit I spent a lot of time and energy on it and started rather small, but many disasters later, that vase brought me so much joy!

In 2023 I’m going big with the ‘back to the land’ ambitions and plan to dig up an entire lawn and create a wild meadow in the hope that I will be lucky enough to have a garden teeming with bees and butterflies. I suspect I will just create a muddy eyesore but I will keep reminding myself ‘the harder I practise, the luckier I will get’.

ft.com

Stacey Bowles

Head of Partnerships, V&A

What’s a great piece of helpful career advice you’ve been given, that you’d pass onto others?

A former manager always said: do not be afraid of asking for help if you need it, it will ultimately save your time and everyone else’s.

What moment in your current job really cemented your passion for what you do?

I have worked on many incredible exhibitions over the years so it is difficult to pick just one moment. I love that my job allows me to work with colleagues who are the best in their field and I consider myself fortunate that I learn about something new every day, whether that is the work of renaissance sculptor Donatello or the latest K-pop bands or contemporary African fashion designers. I get great joy from the variety.

What professional achievement have you been most proud of over the past year?

In November last year I was so pleased to announce that Toshiba extended its sponsorship of the Toshiba Gallery of Japanese Art at the V&A until 2031. Toshiba has supported the gallery since 1986 which is an incredible commitment. Such long-standing partnerships in the arts are quite rare and I felt a huge sense of achievement in contributing to that legacy.

What is a key professional goal you’ve set for yourself over the coming year?

In summer 2023 the V&A will open Young V&A in Bethnal Green. It is the former Museum of Childhood, transformed to be designed with – and for – children and young people. It is an exciting opportunity for my team to develop new partnerships with a whole new range of partners focused on supporting and engaging children and families.

Personally, what highlight is on the horizon for 2023?

Last year I planned my wedding in six months so I am looking forward to a more relaxed 2023! I am planning a trip to Paris to see The Surreal Works of Elsa Schiaparelli exhibition, of which I have heard wonderful things. Closer to home I am looking forward to seeing the Berthe Morisot exhibition at Dulwich Picture Gallery. Also, we have lots of big birthdays and anniversaries in my family this year so I cannot wait to celebrate those moments together.

vam.ac.uk

Linda Plant

Director of Strategic Relations, Edwardian Hotels

What’s a great piece of helpful career advice you’ve been given, that you’d pass onto others?

A brilliant friend and author, Julia Hobsbawn, talked and wrote a lot about ‘the power of networks’. I’m not talking about networking as in cocktail parties, grabbing the first business card and then hounding that person, but creating bonds with like-minded people because when you have those meaningful connections, they can lead to clever and creative outputs. She also made the point that networking as a ‘hard skill’ rather than a ‘soft skill’ can be a real advantage to an organisation. In building my network, I’ve made some amazing friends and contacts who inspire and fascinate me every day and I’m truly thankful to Julia for her expansive thoughts around this subject.

What moment in your current job really cemented your passion for what you do?

There hasn’t really been one defining moment that stood out for me. If anything - it was as soon as I was asked to take on this role and develop it into something strategic for the company. The idea of merging culture and commerce into strategic partnerships was my dream job and I love what I do. It’s a unique role within the hotel industry and I have to thank our Chairman, Jasminder Singh, for his vision and creativity.

What professional achievement have you been most proud of over the past year?

Being part of a team in an industry that has taken so many knocks in the past three years has been a humbling experience. Not only have we had to build our business up again, but we opened our new property, The Londoner, which is our most ambitious project to date.

What is a key professional goal you’ve set for yourself over the coming year?

The hotel industry has been very badly affected by the pandemic and we are only just getting back on our feet. While we have seen a very strong resurgence of the domestic market to our properties, we are really beginning to see the growth of international business once again to London. I’m therefore very excited about leveraging our strategic partnerships in international markets, particularly in North America where we share a common love of arts and culture.

Personally, what highlight is on the horizon for 2023?

Oh my goodness! There are so many and they largely revolve around music. Bruce Springsteen at BST is an absolute firm date in the diary (both performances), Depeche Mode who are performing at Twickenham (I’m preparing my vocal chords for their big anthem, "Personal Jesus") and finally the Isle of Wight Festival, which is a real Sheffield line up in 2023 with Pulp and Human League both performing. Sheffield is my home town so it simply has to be done. But, while on the Isle of Wight there will definitely be a visit to The Hut in Freshwater too so lots to look forward to.

thelondoner.com

Neil Georges

Director of Events and Hospitality, Cowdray

What’s a great piece of helpful career advice you’ve been given, that you’d pass onto others?

Frank Marrenbach, CEO & Managing Partner of Althoff Hotels, once said: should set out to achieve a real point of difference in everything you create or the service you deliver and at the same time be the perfect host.

What moment in your current job really cemented your passion for what you do?

Seeing the team enjoy success when delivering very high-end and detailed stays. We are quite a young team and therefore seeing the team respond so passionately to these successes is extremely rewarding.

What professional achievement have you been most proud of over the past year?

As a result of the recruitment challenges over the past year, the team have all had to step up and perform tasks that are not necessarily on the job description. I have witnessed my team take on additional roles without question, with the happy consequence being that the team are now even stronger than before and have developed a much higher respect and understanding of each other’s roles and competing pressures.

What is a key professional goal you’ve set for yourself over the coming year?

I have a goal to take a little time each day to focus on fitness and health.

Personally, what highlight is on the horizon for 2023?

Looking forward to traveling a little more. It's so important to benchmark everything we do with the best there is out there, perfect excuse to stay in some amazing places.

cowdray.co.uk

Mo Mohsenin

Head of Marketing, LINLEY

What is a great piece of helpful career advice you’ve been given, that you’d pass onto others?

Go with the three Hs: Hard work, Humility, and Humour. An old boss many years ago gave me this piece of advice and it is something I live by to this day.

What moment in your current job really cemented your passion for what you do?

It was when the global pandemic came. We had to re-evaluate our ways of working radically and efficiently – a challenge none of us in the business had ever experienced or anticipated. It was truly inspiring and humbling to see how every single person within our business came together to support each other, and ensure we continue delivering an outstanding service to our clients.

What professional achievement have you been most proud of over the past year?

Redefining what marketing means in the ‘new normal’ world. I strongly believe in the power of collaborations and partnerships, and I set out to establish a number of new strategic partnerships based on shared brand values. These partnerships were very successful in appealing to both our existing clients and helping attract a new audience to our business.

What is a key professional goal you’ve set for yourself over the coming year?

One that I set myself each year: to continue listening and learning and to use my voice as an invitation for other voices. There is huge power in diverse and collective thinking.

Personally, what highlight is on the horizon for 2023?

Being an avid travel enthusiast, I am looking forward to discovering new destinations and adventures.

davidlinley.com

Leo Turner

Business & Marketing Director, Downey

What’s a great piece of helpful career advice you’ve been given, that you’d pass onto others?

Growing up within a family business you’re continuously hearing snippets of advice and guidance about customer service, attention to detail or looking after your people. But, one line has always stuck with me which was actually said by Sir Paul Smith: No-one cares how good you used to be.

It’s a powerful reminder to me that despite being an older, multi-generational family firm with a rich heritage, you can’t just sit with that. You must respect it, but continue to move forward and evolve your proposition and relevance.

What moment in your current job really cemented your passion for what you do?

I get a thrill when developing a new client relationship. The opportunity to review where they have been with print, and how we can take them to the next level gives me such a buzz.

What professional achievement have you been most proud of over the past year?

2022 has been a challenging year in so many ways for everyone. I’m proud to say we have been able to really focus on our fantastic team by making sure we do all we can to support them. We’ve been able to offer multiple pay increases to all staff, provide bonuses to assist with energy bills, we covered National Insurance increases when that came in. This year we also introduced a new healthcare scheme for the staff along with becoming an accredited Living Wage Employer.

What is a key professional goal you’ve set for yourself over the coming year?

We’re looking at taking the next step to evolve our business and presently that means looking at how we can expand our presence in a key market overseas. Watch this space.

Personally, what highlight is on the horizon for 2023?

During lockdown I got really into strength training and very recently, competed in my first amateur strongman competition. My next competition is this coming July, so I’m really excited to work with my coach and do the hard yards in the gym building up to that date. Physically it’s demanding, but mentally it feels great and such a fantastic challenge to begin once you hit your forties!

downey.co.uk

Victoria Carvalho

Chief Proposition Officer, Ten Lifestyle Group

What’s a great piece of helpful career advice you’ve been given, that you’d pass onto others?

I have worked with two fantastic executive leadership coaches at different points in my career. One piece of advice from them that has resonated for me is about sitting in the discomfort. Whether it is a difficult situation with a client, a disagreement with a colleague or a feeling of being overwhelmed, don’t ignore it. Take a moment to feel it, understand the root cause, label it and make a plan (write it down!), before addressing it and moving on. You’ll feel so much clearer and better for it, and you’ll also recognise the feeling much more quickly when it comes up the next time and be able to take a course of action – which can also be no action, but it has been a conscious decision.

What moment in your current job really cemented your passion for what you do?

It was a gamble for me to change industry five years ago, after over 15 years in financial services. Having my first daughter made me re-evaluate my career and I wanted to work in a global company whose values were aligned with mine – a company that was growing, with talented people who could be themselves at work, and where the product was one I would feel passionate about. Joining Ten delivered that in spades and I feel energised about coming to work every day.

What professional achievement have you been most proud of over the past year?

Our business – where travelling, dining out, and visiting shows are a core part of our service offering – worked incredibly hard to serve the changing needs of our members, and, frankly, survive, during Covid. We pivoted quickly with imagination and have come out with a stronger member proposition as a result. This year we grew 35% year over year and are now 30% bigger than before the pandemic, whilst still investing in our dining, travel, entertainment, and luxury retail propositions and technology. I am incredibly proud of how the team have delivered for our members this year.

What is a key professional goal you’ve set for yourself over the coming year?

In the second half of 2023, I want to secure my first non-executive director role, complementary to my position at Ten. I have loved expanding my industry knowledge beyond financial services and wish to continue to gain new experiences, build contacts and learn new skills that will further develop me as a leader. With over 20 years working in global businesses at very different stages of growth, I wish to use this experience to contribute to another organisation’s strategic direction.

Personally, what highlight is on the horizon for 2023?

One of the great company benefits employees receive at Ten Lifestyle Group is a one-month paid sabbatical after every five years of service. Next year marks my fifth year with Ten and I have been planning a trip with my husband and two young daughters to India (Golden Triangle). One of our Lifestyle Managers has created a fabulous itinerary for us (another perk of the job – in house travel experts!) that’s really brought it to life. It’s especially poignant for us to take the girls and show them their heritage as my husband’s grandparents were born in India.

tenlifestylegroup.com

Crispin Butler

Director Marketing and Communications, Fortnum & Mason

What’s a great piece of helpful career advice you’ve been given, that you’d pass onto others?

We have two ears and one mouth for a reason. Listen twice as much as you talk. That's from Peter Souter, when Executive Creative Director of AMV.BBDO.

What moment in your current job really cemented your passion for what you do?

My first Fortnum’s Christmas campaign, specifically giving the dancers from Sir Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker free rein in an empty Fortnum’s one night in Piccadilly for our Christmas film. It was a perfect collision of food and culture, and 181 Piccadilly turned out to be a very good set.

What professional achievement have you been most proud of over the past year?

I was so proud of the way everyone at Fortnum’s came together to deliver some amazing initiatives and events for the Platinum Jubilee, including putting on two remarkable parties at Lancaster House and Marlborough House, and creating the Platinum Pudding Competition which became a global news story reaching millions of people.

What is a key professional goal you’ve set for yourself over the coming year?

To introduce more people to the magic of Fortnum’s.

Personally, what highlight is on the horizon for 2023?

I’ve equal parts excitement and pure fear around taking my four- and seven-year-old children skiing for the first time this February!

fortnumandmason.com