5 minutes with Steph Parry

#TeamMindshare believes in Speed, Teamwork and Provocation. As we adjust to working differently, we're continuing to empower people to challenge the status quo, through what we call Provocation with Purpose. We’re proud to be unmistakably #TeamMindshare and make it the place where we do the best work of our career, grow and have fun. Hear from Steph on how she's adapted, what her biggest learning is and how she keeps being inspired.

Your biggest learning?

Trust. While I always knew I had an amazing team, I’ve realized how much I took comfort in the physical presence of everyone being together that I could just quickly check on things. By being apart and with lots of priorities to juggle, you need to have more trust that people will do the right thing; look after each other, flag problems, deliver excellent work. From a personal and professional view, these past few months have, for everyone, been an emotional rollercoaster. Throughout it all, I’ve been beyond impressed watching my team support each other, and the clients, while continuing to grow the account and themselves.

One word to describe the last few months?

Divided. I love New York, and I’m so happy to call it home. One of the best things about NYC, as an expat, is it’s very easy for me to hop on a plane back to the UK and get back home – so while I miss my family and friends, everyone has always, until this year, felt accessible. Not being able to get on a plane and physically go and see people has honestly been really hard; not being able to be there to comfort people during difficult times, not being there to celebrate the good, happy moments….it makes you grateful for technology, and the connections we have, but it also has made me a bit more aware that my heart lives in more than one place. However, my mother has taken to sending me care parcels with proper British chocolate in them, so there’s always a plus side to things…

Best advice you received about working differently? 

‘You’re not working from home; you’re at home, during a global pandemic, trying to work.’ While that was in the early months, and things are now more ‘normal’, this still resonates with me because it nudges me to stay mindful of all the other things beyond work that people may be managing. If someone was ‘working from home’, they likely also wouldn’t be trying to navigate childcare, snagging a grocery slot, caring for elderly relatives. We’re all still trying to make sense of how to fit our lives and work together, and continuing to stay respectful of that and flex where people need is so important. You never know what someone is juggling, and kindness costs nothing.

How have you stayed inspired?

I am a complete extrovert, so I feed off people, company, and all the cultural wonders NYC has to offer. Understandably, this is tricky during a global pandemic, so I’ve tried to continue these connections virtually. I’m pretty sure I’m the only person still doing a weekly family quiz via Zoom, but we’ve also done lots of other wonderful things like attend virtual book readings, art education sessions and comedy shows. I also participated in the GroupM Extern program as a mentor, and found chatting with someone excited to be a part of our industry who asked lots of curious questions really stimulating and rewarding.

Balancing this social time with headspace for myself has been really important; I’ve done a fair chunk of writing, and my weekend treat, without fail, is reading the Metropolitan section of the NY Times cover-to-cover. I love the Diaries stories: lovely glimpses into human interactions which bring me joy, now more than ever before.