Sarah Ogden is Board Director at 3 Monkeys Communications in London where she oversees the firm’s Business Communications Practice, specialising in delivering a blend of corporate and B2B [business to business] brand-centric campaigns. From launching the UK’s first official Tuk Tuk taxi service and crisis handling for global transport operator First Group during its UK rail franchise negotiations, to developing media relations programmes for Turkish Airlines, her client experience also spans Microsoft to Fujifilm, O2 to AOL, and Coca-Cola Enterprises to Standard Life.
“…The more diverse a workplace – in all senses of the word – then the more chance it has to be smart, creative, competitive and dynamic. Businesses should be a place for ideas and opinions to flourish, to enable long term prosperity and connection with the communities and audiences that they serve. This is only possible when businesses support and encourage a diversity of people and potential…”
From history of ideas to finding my natural place in communications
Following a degree in Intellectual History (history of ideas), I had a few early career stints in politics and publishing. At the latter, I worked with the CEO who was trying to digitally transform the business from sales to operations. That was a challenge but fascinating. The biggest barriers to success were of course cultural. I was always interested in business having come from a family of successful entrepreneurs.
An opportunity arose at a fast growing public relations agency that specialised in the internet and was one of the early PR dot-com success stories. It gave me the chance to work in Brighton for a young vibrant company in an exciting space. It was the role and opportunity that attracted me most rather than a career in PR per se, but once I got into comms I had found my natural place. I had the chance to advise businesses of all sizes and sector on how to be better and smarter about how they communicated. And work in one of the most dynamic spaces – technology!
Gender balance in PR
The debate about gender balance in PR is as important and relevant as the call for more women on boards. Businesses are a product of society and must respect this and not think they are beyond accountability. It is so important trade bodies such as the CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations) set the standards of best practice and support people to attain professional excellence.
They say necessity is the mother of invention and I think we are seeing now more than ever that sustainable and successful organisations have to reflect the world in which they operate. As the rate of market change accelerates, the need to adapt and pivot businesses to remain relevant is critical. This is the heart of comms and marketing, to help businesses be better market-orientated.
The more diverse a workplace – in all senses of the word – then the more chance it has to be smart, creative, competitive and dynamic. Businesses should be a place for ideas and opinions to flourish, to enable long term prosperity and connection with the communities and audiences that they serve. This is only possible when businesses support and encourage a diversity of people and potential.
The PR industry must absolutely be leaders in demonstrating the value and positive benefits of a more diverse workforce – and communicate the results to everyone.
Career advice for women in PR
Ask not if you are a woman or a man but if you are a good communicator? Do you understand and relate well to people, do you have an appetite for understanding business and the role of communications in creating commercial success? Do you consume media and take an interest in political, social and economic trends and topics? If so, sign up now to one of the most fun, fast paced, ever changing and very stimulating careers.
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