What talent do you naturally have that makes you successful?
When I was 17 I recall my A-Level Geography teacher saying to me that I could ‘write an essay about the inside of an egg’. This comment could have been perceived in a number of ways – Gemma is a natural ‘waffler’, rehearsed at blagging her way through essays or…perhaps….Gemma is a creative writer. Thankfully (and hopefully) I think he was referring to the latter!
I’m not quite sure where my flair for writing comes from but, since it has been recognised and nurtured, it has enabled me to leap up the career ladder from an Office Administrator to an Account Manager in a PR & Digital marketing agency.
When did you first realise that talent was going to help you, and how do you use it?
Initially I realised when I was in college. I flourished in English, Geography and History – subjects which required umpteen essays to be written in short timescales. On completing my academic studies, I surprisingly missed those hellish essays and the associated high adrenalin levels!
Early in my career at Mosaic Publicity, when my duties were predominately administrative, I started writing a light-hearted monthly update to the team. The praise I received from colleagues and company Directors spurred me on to believe that I could use my writing talent to a greater extent within my job role.
The rest, as they say, is history! I got promoted to Account Manager and now I use my talent to draft technical tenders and proposals, create punchy press releases and inventive social media updates for clients.
I realise the importance of excellent communication and its link to success both in, and outside of, the world of PR.
What emotional attachment do you have to your work?
I am a perfectionist! Whatever I write and create has to be just-so before it is issued into the public domain. Sometimes when working to extremely tight deadlines I don’t get much time to be as fussy, which is a shame. I view writing as an art-form that needs time and dedication to achieve its desired outcome – this is true when you think how many times a novel is edited before it goes to the publishers.
I also have emotional attachment to some of the projects I work on. When given ownership of a particular project it becomes my little ‘baby’; my platform to be innovative and self-achieve, whilst still meeting client objectives.
What tips do you have for other women who’d like to do your job?
Welcome to the world of deadlines! You need to be an excellent writer and communicator but achieve the task in half the amount of time you think it will take!
Multi-task – My job role involves managing many different client accounts. Different subjects, different personalities, and different objectives – your ability to be a juggler is paramount in order to keep everyone happy.
Think outside the box – and think big. Clients want innovative and exciting ideas, not the run-of-the-mill news story or event.
Want more information about what Gemma and Mosaic Publicity could do for you?
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