Sophie Attwood is an award-winning PR expert who has recently published her debut book -Beautiful PR: Finding Your Brand’s Heartbeat for Authenticity in Communication.
Sophie’s book offers a unique opportunity for brands to learn how to truly enhance their reputation and bolster growth with an honest communication strategy that will stand the test of time.
Tell us a bit about yourself, your background and your current role.
I founded a global communications agency, SA Communications, in 2017 and we now work with a carefully curated global portfolio of exceptional brands within the health, beauty and wellness industries. I was recently listed within Management Today’s 35 Women under 35 List which was a huge achievement and one I’m incredibly proud of.
I studied English Literature and Creative Writing at university and during my second year, I worked as a French and English tutor before landing my first role as an in-house PR executive and starting to climb in my career. As with most good things that have happened throughout my career, I dreamed big and did a lot of learning along the way.
I am fortunate to have built an exceptional team of the most talented women who all have different strengths. Together we are constantly questioning and challenging and ensuring that we deliver the best results possible for our exceptional clients, keeping them at the forefront of their industries.
I thrive on challenges and the variety of my role in which no two days are the same. One day I could be in London directing an innovative influencer marketing campaign, the next I may be speaking on stage at an international aesthetics conference.
Did you ever sit down and plan your career?
I never sat down and planned my career, and if I’m honest I got into PR by accident really after landing my first job. But since then I’ve always planning the next steps, planning to scale, planning to find inspiration, and planning to build a great team. Nothing great comes by accident – it comes by hard work and a clear vision.
Have you faced any challenges along the way?
I don’t think that there are any women in business who haven’t faced challenges along the way, I know I certainly have that’s for sure. One of the biggest challenges was keeping the business afloat during the pandemic. Fortunately, we got through that so I know we can survive anything.
What has been your biggest achievement to date?
I actually think my biggest achievement to date has been in building a business where I can give something back to my team. When you launch from the ground up, you can’t put things in place other than a dream and a hope that your team will share it. But now, of course, it’s very different.
What one thing do you believe has been a major factor in your achieving success?
I would say realising my worth and noting the value that I’m bringing rather than chasing perfection and worrying about others – once you see that you can’t unsee it and you’ll only grow from there.
How do you feel about mentoring? Have you mentored anyone or are you someone’s Mentee?
‘Mentoring is vital for both the mentor and the mentee and I’m proud to have mentored a number of people over the years. I never had a formal mentor, but my previous boss really did support me in stepping out of my comfort zone. He saw a lot of potential in me and really pushed me to go against other critics and own my seat in the boardroom’
If you could change one thing to accelerate the pace of change for Gender Parity, what would it be?
As a young female in business, I constantly find myself up against gender inequality, and as a mother of a young daughter, it is something extremely close to my heart and high on my agenda. I want to help accelerate the pace of change for Gender Parity so that my daughter doesn’t have to face the challenges that I do. I think that one way we can all help to do this is to continue to challenge gender inequality, to continue to question it and to refuse to accept that because gender inequality is currently the norm it will continue to be so.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self what would it be?
Trust the process and continue to dream big. Work is a necessity, but having a job that you love and enjoy each day is a choice.
What is your next challenge and what are you hoping to achieve in the future?
My next challenge is the launch of a second arm of the business in 2024. It’s still under wraps, but it will be a service offering that will be incredibly useful to all of our existing clients now and into the future.
Read more from our inspirational women here.
