8 career insights for aspiring female professionals

For International Women’s Day, Quine spoke to Judith O’Leary, founder of Edinburgh-based communications agency, Represent Comms, to hear about everything she has learned over 20 years as a business owner.

What I wish I knew as a young entrepreneur

This year, we are celebrating 20 years of Represent Comms. The journey has been transformative, both professionally and personally, and while I didn’t set out to run my own agency, I am very proud of what’s been achieved.

Two decades ago, still grieving from the untimely death of my mother and with the end of my 3-month maternity leave looming, I took the bold decision to start up on my own. The move was heavily influenced by the need to juggle childcare for three children under five and a weekly commute into London in my role as Director of a global PR agency. To be frank, it was not the ideal set-up for a woman with the dual ambition of growing in her career and being the best mother.

Now, with the challenges, missteps, and tough years intertwined with successes, unforgettable moments, and many client victories, I can reflect on the lessons these two decades have taught me – I hope it helps you on your journey.

Find Your People

Leading a business can feel incredibly lonely, so having a trusted group of advisors who understand you and your business is a lifeline. I’m fortunate to have a close circle of friends – mostly female – who too have families and their own firms. Try to find those who challenge and inspire you, and you’ll take giant leaps forward.

Build Resilience

‘The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry’, and in business, this is particularly true – the unexpected is inevitable, and you need to get comfortable with change! When setbacks come, acknowledge the pain, and move on swiftly. Dwelling on the past is pointless; focus instead on moving forward with renewed energy.

Choose Your Team Wisely

Be cautious in assembling your crew. Crafting your culture is a significant perk of owning a business. Having the right people on board is vital for a happy and successful organisation. Craft your ‘why’ and corporate values and use these to guide your recruitment process.

Embrace Humanity

While numbers, strategy, and results matter, compassion, kindness, and empathy should be your driving force. When under pressure, you need to work harder to not lose sight of your essence – clients, employers, and peers will remember your kindness in moments of difficulty.

Network with Purpose

I have grown my business on the back of my connections – networking, therefore, is time well spent. The Chamber of Commerce and CIPR Scotland are good places to start, and a shout out to Causeway Scotland Ireland Business Exchange of which I am co-chair – we’re a friendly bunch.

Always Be Learning

Sharpen your curiosity and embrace changes fearlessly to stay ahead of the game. The media landscape is constantly evolving, which forces us here at Represent to stay up to speed with the latest trends and platforms to deliver real value for our clients and offer a competitive edge.

Be Brave and Bold

Sadly, you will meet people on your career journey who you do not see eye-to-eye with. While we don’t have to like everyone you work with, you do need to have mutual respect. If that’s missing, then sever the relationship. You’ll sleep better at night, I promise!

Celebrate the Wins

In the fast-paced world of running an agency, I am guilty of not pausing to enjoy the wins. If I could bottle the incredible feeling you get from securing a great piece of coverage, winning an award, or getting brilliant feedback from a client, I would take a swig of it each morning to set me up for the day.

There’s no doubt that managing your own business can be challenging. The weight of ensuring there’s enough money in the bank to pay suppliers and staff, as well as consistently meeting your clients’ expectations, falls squarely on your shoulders. However, having a fantastic team by your side makes all the difference in keeping your business moving forward and finding joy in your job!

Looking back on past campaigns – whether it was collaborating with big names like Huggies and Warburtons or pulling off unique stunts such as bringing farmyard animals onto the Edinburgh Tram for The Royal Highland Show – those moments were truly memorable! Laughter acts as a wellspring of inner strength; holding onto joy, playfulness, and fun can provide the resilience needed to weather tough times.

Keep truckin’ all – you’ve got this!

Visit representcomms.co.uk.