ELLEN HEDLEY Director, Vida Creative.
What did you set out to achieve this year?
After a high growth year with lots of change last year, we set out to develop our team and service offering. It was important to us as a management team to get Vida’s values and our specific ways of working truly engrained into everything we do. The aim being to support everyone to do their best work – and of course get the best results for clients. We also set out to work on projects with more of our ‘ideal clients’ – enjoying the work we do is absolutely at the centre of our company ethos so we didn’t want to lose that.
Has everything gone according to plan?
Full disclosure, not everything has gone to plan. Does it ever all go to plan in business!? But we are approaching the end of the year with a great team, a list of brilliant projects under our belt and an excitement for what next year will bring.
How has the business adapted following the pandemic?
We’re a lot more flexible with home working. Beforehand we’d only really work from home if there was a particular reason for it but now it’s just part of the way we work. Most people still choose to come into the office most days – we’re very lucky in the fact that we all get on really well as a team so it’s nice to be in the office together.
What are you most proud of this year?
The projects that our team have worked on with clients this year. For a small agency in the North East we get to do some very cool things. We’re super proud to have worked with Soccer Aid for UNICEF for the last three years on the campaign look and feel, and this year, the event raised over £15.5m (a record amount!). To play a small part in that is something we can be proud of!
What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve received this year?
I took a leadership course and one of the things that stuck with me was to ‘be good at what you’re good at’, and help others to be better than you at what you’re not. I think business leaders have a lot of pressure to have all the answers, but if we can empower our teams to excel in their own areas of expertise then that’s the key to long term business success. In my opinion anyway!
What have you learnt about yourself this year?
I’m way more resilient than I thought! I think every business owner will tell you that running a business is very tough at times. I absolutely love what I do, and it’s just as well because with everything that’s happened in the world this year I did sometimes want to hibernate! I’ve practiced looking at every challenge that’s comes my way this year as a learning experience. This has definitely helped me to think about things in a more positive way and tackle things head on.
What’s been the most enjoyable business social event you have attended?
Oooh difficult one! Can I say one of our own team’s socials!? We did escape rooms and it was a great laugh. In terms of more business-related ones, I enjoyed the Entrepreneurs’ Forum 20th birthday event, and we also set up our own alternative networking event this year which was really enjoyable. It’s called Notworking and we’re hoping to do more of these casual networking events next year (we’ve banned business cards and sales pitches!). Everyone is welcome so please do look it up!
Describe 2022 in three words….
Exciting. Challenging. Evolution.
What are your aims for 2023?
For me personally, to continue working on my abilities to be a great leader of my business. Whether I like it or not, I have the power to affect how every person in my team feels about coming to work every day. It’s my responsibility to ensure that this feeling is a positive one. We have a brilliant team who all get on really well and produce quality work, and I want to keep it that way by continuing to make Vida a great place to work.
