Trailblazers and leaders: Rachel Brown

Rachel Brown | Director of Communication & Strategy | Freelands Group

 How did you get into comms? 

I actually started my career in TV, first as a BBC trainee producer and then as an Assistant Producer. After leaving the Beeb, I joined ITV as a news producer, and I absolutely loved the job but they weren’t giving contracts at that time, so I was doing four or five shifts a week on average, although sometimes it’d be less. I didn’t fancy the unpredictability of freelance work long-term, especially as I was newly married and had just got a mortgage! So Comms seemed like a way for me to use my skills, do something I enjoyed, and be paid regularly, so I made the move from TV to Government Communications. 

What is something you do every day without fail?

Read for pleasure! I’m always reading something, whether articles, novels or catching up with the weekend papers (I like lifestyle articles). I subscribe to a LOT of publications so there’s always something popping up for me to read! 

What is the best piece of advice you’ve received? And who gave it to you? 

When I was working in the Downing Street press office, my boss (Chief Press Officer, Nations & Regions) told me that I was a really good writer and that I should stop being scared to write press notices. My confidence had been dented by a previous boss who used to slash my work to pieces so by the time I got to No10, I was a bit worn out. I soon got it back after that! 

What is a tool/hack that you’d recommend to anyone starting out in comms? 

I started out monitoring the news so making sure I was following the right people on Twitter and had all the news alerts from PA definitely saved me time. Beyond that, I'd advise anyone in comms to take note of email signatures and save the important ones! You are always going to need a good contact at some point on your career, and you're going to come across a lot of important and interesting people. Save their details! 

What's your greatest achievement to date? 

I'd say my work at No10. I was Head of BAME Comms and I did a lot of important work with ethnic minority communities. I worked with PM Theresa May to set up the very first Stephen Lawrence Day, which is now celebrated in schools each year and of which I'm so proud of. 

I suppose winning one of 10 places on BBC's Trainee Assistant Producer Scheme out of 9000 applicants still makes me proud when I think of it - although I was just starting out and that was a long time ago now! 

Is there a particular comms campaign you've seen in your career that you wished you'd worked on? 

It has to be 'This Girl Can'. It was an absolutely brilliant campaign, brilliantly executed. 

What's the key skill you think a comms/PR professional requires? 

The ability to ask the right questions and get a grip on events quickly and calmly. You obviously have to be a good writer but I've seen quite poor writers advance their careers by being good at being decisive! 

In three words, describe your approach to your work

My approach: inquisitive, proactive and people-centered. 

What's a question every PR/marketing pro should ask themselves? 

"Do I love the work enough to bring excellence to it?" That's what I ask myself before I take any job. Apart from my first comms role in a government department, I wasn't interested in, I've never taken a job I didn't believe in or didn't think I could get excited about. Comms isn't all about data or figures: you have to throw yourself into the subject matter so you really have to believe in it to do yourself justice.