Pride Month, Fish and the Team
Pride Month has got me thinking about something I value most about our team, and well, aside from the mad skills! It's the people.
I've spent more than 20 years building teams, and one thing I've learned is that the magic never comes from finding people who fit neatly into a box. It comes from finding people who each bring something entirely different to the table and then creating an environment where they feel comfortable, and more importantly, encouraged to share it.
I look around our studio and see people from different countries, different generations, different backgrounds and completely different life experiences. Every single person has a way of looking at the world that is uniquely theirs. I don't think I'd survive a week working with people who all thought like me (and I'm absolutely certain nobody else would either!)
Recently, Charlotte introduced us to one of her passions. Fish. Charlotte breeds tropical fish and corals. Before she arrived, I genuinely had no idea there was an entire community dedicated to this sort of thing. Fast forward a little, and somehow, we now have a fish tank in the studio. The funny thing is that nobody really questioned it. Charlotte likes fish, we like Charlotte, and therefore we now have fish 🐟
It made me laugh because the more I thought about it, the more I realised that's probably how we've always approached people around here. We don't just employ marketers, designers and strategists. We employ whole people, complete with passions, communities, quirks, and, apparently, occasionally fish.
Breea has recently stepped into leadership opportunities outside of work (I’m pumped), and I absolutely love seeing it. There is something pretty special about watching people back themselves, put themselves out there and realise they are capable of so much more than they thought… I personally never doubted it for a minute.
Ranali continues to do some incredible work supporting the Sri Lankan community. The occasional homemade food appearing in the studio is a definite bonus, yes, but what I love most is seeing someone championing their culture and investing in their community. It’s just so blooming awesome.
Maybe that's what I've come to appreciate most as I've got older. People are just more interesting when they're allowed to be themselves. Those things don't distract from the work. They tend to make the work better.
Perhaps that’s what Pride Month has really had me reflecting on. Not acceptance. Acceptance feels like a pretty low bar. What we need is wholehearted, enthusiastic encouragement.
Be you. All of you.
What I love about our team is that we don't simply accept people for who they are, we genuinely celebrate it. We get excited about people's passions. We champion their leadership journeys. We take an interest in their communities, cultures, and lives outside of work because they matter.
The best workplaces aren't built by asking people to fit in. They're built by creating an environment where people feel comfortable standing out. Where people can be fully themselves. Where people know they don't need to edit parts of who they are to belong.
So this Pride Month, I've found myself feeling pretty grateful. I feel grateful that nobody here feels like they need to leave important parts of who they are at the door. And importantly, I am grateful that our team is made up of people who are all a little different and completely comfortable with that.
After more than twenty years in business, I've somehow reached a point where a fish tank in a marketing agency doesn't seem remotely unusual. Because if we're going to encourage people to bring their whole selves to work, we probably need to be prepared for whatever that looks like… Even when it comes with scales 🐠
Carla Forbes, Director
