People stories

What drew you to working at Hawthorn?   

I was drawn to Hawthorn because of the people stories on the website! Having others share their experiences gave me an insight into what the job consisted of. I enjoyed seeing the mix of different personalities and what they enjoyed about working at Hawthorn. It made me realise that it was somewhere I could see myself.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

What I enjoy most about my role is the variety. I get to work with different clients at the same time, each with their own unique needs. The people I work with also varies from team to team, which means you gain from a lot of different experiences. This keeps things interesting and allows me to learn a lot quickly, even at a relatively junior level.

Tell us about your hobbies / how do you like to spend your free time?

I’ve just moved to London with three friends, so a lot of my free time goes into making our flat feel like home and exploring the area. Living in East London is great—we’re really enjoying all the fantastic food spots we’ve found. It’s been a lot of fun hunting for artwork and furniture!

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

The best advice I’ve received recently is to get really good at remembering people’s names. The person who gave me the advice was told the same thing at the start of their career, with the somewhat harsher caveat that it’s just plain self-involved not to! I’ve always found it tricky to match faces with names, but I have made it my mission to improve. It has made for a lot less stressful situations and awkward moments.

Is there a specific experience or influential figure that sparked your passion for political advisory work? What made it stand out to you?

Before joining Hawthorn, I worked in Parliament. It was there that I realised how crucial public affairs are in shaping policies and ensuring that stakeholders have a voice during political decisions and legislation. I also saw the significant impact that quality political advisory can have on a business, which inspired me to pursue a career in the field.