Sarah O’Connell did not comply with a typical {industry} pathway. She did not attend elite colleges and even know copywriting was a job till her twenties, however she has carved out a profession that proves the facility of craft, confidence, and group.
Now Head of Copy at Bristol-based branding company Mr B & Mates, Sarah is vocal in regards to the underrepresentation of working-class creatives and the hazard of sameness in an {industry} that claims to worth originality. In our newest In Her Personal Phrases Q&A, she displays on self-belief, self-promotion, and why progress within the artistic {industry} means extra than simply speaking the discuss.
Have you ever ever felt unseen or underestimated in your profession, and the way did you overcome it?
Oh yeah. I’ve had folks mock me for my accent, my background, and my work historical past – I did not attend nice colleges or have a standard industry-pathway training. I did not even know this profession existed till I used to be in my twenties! So, I got here in a bit late, with out the identical depth of {industry} information as others, and I used to be consistently underestimated.
The sharpest shutdown is proving folks fallacious. I’ve saved studying, honing my craft – consistently bettering myself. You make your self simple. I do know I am good at what I do. And that is the important thing, I feel – it’s important to actually consider in your individual craft.
I do know folks say this on a regular basis, however maintain on to your accomplishments. This is not only for juniors or these simply beginning out; it is for everybody. Hold a folder in your desktop. Stuff it with good work and good phrases. Use it to remind your self of your laborious work and your mark on the world.
How do you strategy self-promotion and making your work seen?
Once I learnt to drive, I used to be all the time anxious about what different drivers is likely to be considering in the event that they needed to decelerate or make house for me. My teacher would repeatedly say, “It is your highway, too.” And for some motive, that phrase actually caught with me.
It is noisy on the market, and our {industry} has a peculiar behavior of revering sure people or putting them on a pedestal. So, self-promotion can really feel intimidating, particularly if you happen to’re sharing content material that aligns with their pursuits. However it’s your highway, too. Focus by yourself journey.
Keep genuine. You do not have to be loud or brash if that is not you. And you do not have to be meek and humble, both. However you do need to consider your ideas and concepts matter. Your experiences, your opinions, your perspective – no person else has lived your life.
So maintain sharing your standpoint, maintain talking up, maintain doing nice work – that half speaks for itself. Encompass your self with folks whose opinions you truly care about, and ask them for suggestions.
What function has mentorship or group performed in your profession development?
I am so fortunate to have a vastly supportive feminine(!!) ECD – one thing everyone knows is method too uncommon on this {industry}. She’s an awesome mentor, and he or she’s helped me grow to be a greater advocate for my very own concepts and opinions, particularly once I’m surrounded by {industry} veterans. Having somebody so senior in your nook who treats you as an equal and encourages you to talk up is invaluable.
In my expertise, mentorship does not simply have to come back from probably the most senior folks within the room. I am consistently educated, impressed, pushed, challenged, and supported by my wider staff at Mr B. This may not comply with the normal mentor/mentee relationship. However these are the individuals who stretch me and encourage me to develop.
What’s one change you’d prefer to see by way of illustration within the artistic {industry}?
I’ve all the time been drawn to different self-described oddballs – folks from historically underrepresented, missed, and undervalued teams who aren’t a part of the standard homogeneous make-up of our {industry}. They usually find yourself being the folks doing one thing actually attention-grabbing or completely different, making highly effective, emotive, distinctive work.
I bang the drum quite a bit about Class illustration. It is estimated that solely 16% of individuals in full-time artistic roles are from a working-class background, with ladies particularly underrepresented. Males from privileged backgrounds are 4.8 instances extra prone to safe work in artistic occupations than working-class ladies.
How can we declare to be making work for the plenty once we aren’t representing them? How can we meaningfully join with these whose lived expertise we do not perceive?
To not point out, sameness makes us predictable. Do we actually have a lot to supply if everybody shares the identical perspective, the identical experiences, the identical outdated tales?
Whereas AI drives the amalgamation of common, true creativity calls for distinction. Surrounding ourselves with a mixture of clever, curious, humorous, fascinating, numerous folks makes our personal work braver and bolder.
It is time we cease preaching progress and begin practising it.
