Rising Star: Kate Boyle

Posted in Candidates, Financial PR

Jumping ship from a secure, well-rewarded job to set up, of all things, a financial services PR company at the height of the financial crisis might to most people seem like career suicide. But then this month’s rising star isn’t most people.

After careful planning and preliminary research, Kate Boyle explains why her career move was not a leap of faith against the odds but a much safer, considered one.

Name: Kate Boyle

Position: Independent Consultant, Financial Services PR

Company: Kate Boyle PR, Media and Events. For more information, click on www.kateboyle-pr.co.uk or e-mail her at kate@kateboyle-pr.co.uk

Can you summarise your career path to date? In the 10 years I’ve been working in the City, I’ve gained experience in a variety of fields including finance, advertising and recruitment. For the last six years though, I’ve specialised in financial services PR, specifically pensions and investments which I’m passionate about, firstly as an account manager for GR Communications and now as an independent consultant.

Describe your role: As anyone who has started their own company knows, my role includes everything from pitching, making presentations and networking, to photocopying and making the coffee.

What’s been your career highlight to date? Winning my first client as an independent consultant. I was recommended to pitch by a journalist contact and, even though the tender process was at a fairly advanced stage at that point, I got it. It was before I had a website or had done any marketing, but I knew it was too good an opportunity to miss. To think that I won entirely on my own merits was – is – a fantastic feeling.

And your greatest challenge? Jumping ship! Without wanting to sound repetitious, turning a hope and idea into a reality by setting up my own company has been challenging, yes, but incredibly rewarding. I still wake up and wonder whether I was crazy to take such a leap, especially with the volatility of the financial markets over the past year, but without tempting fate, so far, so good.

And ambition? In some ways, I’ve already achieved my ambition in as much as I’m now my own boss but developing long-standing relationships and having a solid book of clients is an ultimate goal.

What advice can you offer to other comms professionals who want to get ahead in the current climate? Knowing your market and knowing where you fit is an important part of succeeding at any time. I know many people had their reservations about my timing when it came to setting up my business but I’d done my research and knew there was a gap in the market for boutique financial services PR agencies who could offer great service for organizations with smaller budgets, specifically because of current market challenges. Be careful to target the right people and make sure that your USPs meet their requirements. Lastly, have a personality!

How do you feel about what you have achieved so far in your career? I’m pleased that I’m ticking many of the boxes I wanted to achieve but it’s not a case of resting on laurels – I’ve many targets and lots of work still to do.

What recent current affairs issue are you most interested in, and why? What’s going on in the pensions market – everything from solvency management and governance to legislation and personal accounts.

What challenges are you facing in your current position? I think helping people understand the benefits of working with a smaller provider, knowing that smaller does not mean less capable, will be an ongoing challenge, as will keeping up to date with everything and being an ambassador for your business. The day you stop believing in your business is the day it will go down the tubes.

Do you have an unusual, impressive or inspirational career path? Are you able to offer sage career advice to other communications professionals? If so, we’d love to hear from you! To nominate a colleague or be featured as the next ‘rising star’ yourself, contact us at: sarah@the-works.co.uk or tel. 020 7559 6690. Alternatively, click on our website at: www.the-works.co.uk