Tell us a bit about yourself and your career leading up to Psycho Bunny
I started my career in Strategy Consulting, but soon went into International Development. After a few years of this, I actually went to grad school for Development Economics. While there, though, I realized this wasn’t really for me and I added an MBA on in a joint degree. Since then, I have been in various functions in Retail and Brands for more than 15 years.
Over the years, I’ve realized that it’s really important to consistently have a mix between Strategy/Operations, New areas of focus/Areas of expertise and Team Leadership/Personal growth in my work. I love my current role, because it really is a great example of this.
It’s also been really important to me to balance personal and professional demands over the course of my career – or rather, to attempt to balance these considerations. I can’t say that I’ve always succeeded at this. This has actually worked best when I decide to lean one way or the other. For example, I have stayed home with my kids at multiple points in my career. And I have moved countries to benefit my partner’s career. Being clear about what I was prioritizing at those decision points was really helpful – especially when making joint decisions with my partner.
Tell us about a day in the life of a Chief Digital, Marketing and CX Officer at Psycho Bunny
My mornings usually start in a scramble, as I get my kids to school. It’s almost a relief to commute to work with some new music or a phone call to family.
I worked from home for five years before joining Psycho Bunny, and working in person was actually part of my excitement for my current role. I found being at home all day too isolating. Psycho Bunny has definitely delivered on this front. As a culture, it’s very collaborative and discussion-oriented, yet fast-moving – which I really enjoy. The one drawback is that there are lots of meetings as a result. So the day is quite hectic. I get energized by the feeling of progress, though, so I am really enjoying it.
A new addition for me after work is a tennis lesson. There’s a club about 15 minutes from the office, so it’s very convenient. It’s been decades since I last played. But it’s incredibly satisfying to pick this back up.
And my day ends with my family – getting updates on all the latest happenings and making sure that everyone did their homework. If we have time, my partner and I attempt to watch a TV show – but we usually fall asleep too early to get very far. It takes us ages to finish a series these days. And then rinse and repeat!
Which skill has proven most valuable in your career progression?
The roles I have taken over the years have been quite varied – but to use a very podcasty term – I have aimed to maintain a “growth mindset” over the years. This has served me well as I changed industries, functions and geographies over the years.
Are you a fashion enthusiast? What are your favorite Psycho Bunny items?
Yes I am! With the qualifier that I’m most interested in it from a cultural standpoint – I pay more attention to my own clothing for special items or occasions than for the day-to-day. As a result, I tend towards a daily “uniform” that is very functionally inspired. So lots of T-shirts – our Classic Crew Neck T-Shirt is fantastic.
What do you see as the future trends and challenges in the fashion industry, and how do you see Psycho Bunny adapting to those trends and challenges?
I think the biggest challenge is the pace of change in the industry – it’s only increasing. Trends, technologies, political shifts – they are all moving incredibly fast. Psycho Bunny has a true “bias to action”, though. So more than most companies I have worked with, it will be well positioned to react quickly and strongly to a rapidly changing context.
What perspectives do you or your female and gender-diverse colleagues bring to the table that may be overlooked?
I think that folks who have been “in the minority” – whether due to gender or some other characteristic – often have opportunities to see how cultural assumptions impact the day-to-day. For example, I find the term “gravitas” highly gendered and very culturally specific – mostly because I had years of well-meaning mentors trying to coach me on it with advice like “use a deeper voice” and “straighten your hair”. The image of a leader has certainly broadened over time, but there is still room to expand it. And folks who are sensitized to this have an important role to play in moving this forward.
How do you foster innovation within your team?
Key is asking questions, and encouraging everyone to do the same. It’s easy to fall back on “this is how we did it before” – I try to remind myself and my team to re-examine assumptions and question precedent where possible. Easier said than done of course! And sometimes too many questions can become paralyzing. But finding the right balance on this can be incredibly powerful – especially when everyone on a team feels comfortable sharing their views and ideas.
