After two years of silencing self-doubt and taking a chance on working for myself, being shortlisted for a PRCA ‘Professional of the Year’ Award is recognition of the courage, skill, and effort it has taken to build an independent consultancy which amplifies the messages of those organisations that change lives.
With over 20 years in the charity sector, I took a leap of faith and started my own PR consultancy. Yes, it was in the midst of the global pandemic, with only small savings to fall back on, and balancing homeschooling my young son. With this new mantra and taking those wistful Instagram posts to heart, I made my move and fully embraced uncertainty.
Silencing my own inner critic has by far been my biggest challenge during this journey. With the encouragement of a former director, I secured three clients within the first few weeks of starting up, generating a spark of confidence that has continued to fuel my early wins.
My goal is to build on my reputation for delivering excellent work, strategic counsel, and creative solutions for purpose-driven organisations, always making a difference. In these two short years, I now have a roster of clients who have come through word of mouth and recommendations from across the charity sector and whom I am proud to represent.
Being shortlisted for this award is an honour. As a single parent and someone who suffers imposter syndrome, I hope I might inspire others. It’s never too late to follow your dreams. Self-belief doesn’t always come naturally, but persistence and determination can pay off.