It’s a team effort

We’re currently preparing for the forthcoming – temporary – departure of Kate on maternity leave at the end of March. Part of this of course is interviewing candidates who will be aiming to step in to her (supremely capable) shoes while she’s away. We’ve received some really interesting applications and are excited to see where they lead.

Recruiting usually brings out the reflective side of me! It really is a time to look at your business, understand where you’ve come from, what you do and where you want to be. And in preparing for the interviews and reviewing the applications, it strikes me now more than ever that the growth of Mzuri has, of course, been down to our lovely clients but fundamentally has been down to our fantastic team.

I started my own maternity leave at the end of September last year (I know, there is apparently something in the water at Mzuri!). After an inital feeling of being a fish out of water (I have been at the helm for 6 years and am a bit of a self-confessed workaholic to boot), I relaxed, safe in the knowledge that we have a fabulous, capable, energetic team who are just as passionate about Mzuri and our clients as I am. Kate has very ably stepped in to various elements of my role, as well as taking on some of my clients on top of her already large list. Zoe has taken over the lions share of the clients that I managed and they love her. So much so, that I’m happy to say that Zoe has now joined the team on a permanent basis. Emma has happily taken on a broader responsibility for the day to day financial management of the business that I was more involved with before I left in September. Phil, Lara and Paul of course have all been brilliant too. So I really do have to say thanks to all of them for doing such a fabulous job.

Team work often comes up at interview, as one of the questions we get asked is ‘how we work’. And my feeling is that our work at Mzuri is very much a ‘team effort’ – we love sharing ideas, running things past each other, drawing on each others experience and helping each other out. We all get a buzz out of achieving great things for our clients and a passion for exceeding expectations. We don’t stand on titles – everyone’s thoughts and ideas count.

In interviewing for the new account manager position, it is clear in my mind that not only will the successful candidate have to have great marketing knowledge, buckets of experience and effective project management skills, but that they will need to be the right ‘fit’. For Mzuri, for our team, for our clients.

I look forward to introducing you to the new person very soon! Watch this space.