By Agency Works 
Next up in our Meet the Team series, it’s Principal Consultant, cocktail lover and former Cape Town resident, Jules Pickering.
Tell us about your role at Agency Works...
"I’m a Principal Consultant which puts me in a really lucky position because I get to work across both our delivery and client success teams. I onboard new clients and work with existing clients who want to get more out of Synergist, so I feel I really get the best of both worlds.
"Agency life is great, but it can be quite relentless. I know from personal experience that if you don’t have the right systems in place it can become really stressful. That’s why I’m so passionate about what I do now. It’s about helping to ease a bit of the chaos and allowing people to get on with the things they’re best at."
What about your early career? How did you end up here?
"I fell into the creative industry by chance really. I was living in South Africa at the time, and started as a receptionist at an ad agency when I was 20. I quickly moved from that role into account management, and I just knew then that this was an industry I wanted to be part of.
"I worked at some great places, from boutique agencies to larger networked agencies like Saatchi and Saatchi, where I spent just over ten years. I was in South Africa for over 20 years before moving back to the London area 14 years ago.
"I’ve worked in a variety of roles, from client-services to operations. My most recent role, before Agency Works, was as co-owner of an agency in London."
What do you enjoy most about your role?
"It’s helping people and being able to share my experiences with them. I truly believe that getting systems right frees people up to do what they want to do and have more fun doing it.
"A lot of our clients are creative people and the last thing they want is to get bogged down from an operations or systems point of view."
What do you like most about agency life?
"You’re working with great people who are having fun doing what they do and are passionate about the creative industry."
"There’s an incredible electric buzz, no matter what agency it is. I’m not sure if it’s stress, excitement or fun - or a mixture of all three - but there’s always this underlying current. That’s why I chose to be in this industry; the energy you get from it."
What value do clients get from working with you?
"I’ve seen agency life from every angle, so I can really empathise with them and understand what their teams are feeling. I know what it’s like when your boss comes to you and says “Can I have a report on every client we’ve worked with in the last five years… and I need it in the next 20 minutes!"
I'm a really big believer in keeping things clear and no-nonsense. Agency life is too busy.
What would you be doing if you weren't in this job?
"My dream when I was younger was to be an air hostess. I was totally sold on the idea of the glamour, the adventure and the travel. I went for interviews, but my dream came to a halt when I got told that I was the 'wrong size' for the job. That's literally the actual wording I received. It was crushing. Understand that this was the mid-80s when that kind of thing was accepted. Luckily, I'm not a sensitive person but it's awful to think what kind of an impact that could have had on some people.
"I think it was probably a blessing in disguise as, without it, I wouldn't have discovered this industry and the amazing career that I've had so far.
"If I wasn't doing this job now, I'd probably still be working in a role that needs a cool head and a bit of common sense. I've always enjoyed solving problems and getting things moving along - preferably without too much drama. I hate drama - however, I've never missed an episode of EastEnders!"
Any unfulfilled life ambitions?
"Not really – but nothing too complicated. I’ve got a life full of great people, great conversations – and great cocktails!
"I’d be happy living in a house with a big piece of land looking after French Bulldogs. Ideally, it would be by the sea. The sea was a huge part of my life when I was in Cape Town and I just think there’s something so calming about it. You always feel better when you’re by the beach."
What do you like doing when you're not at work?
"I'm a proud mum. My son's all grown up now, and I still feel a real sense of achievement that I managed to keep a human being alive, which you'd understand if you ever tried my cooking! He now works in the hospitality industry which I like to say is because of my influence but is more than likely in spite of it.
"I don’t think you could really class it as a ‘hobby’, but I do enjoy a cocktail or two. Cosmopolitans are my favourite."
And finally, any interesting talents or claims to fame?
"When I was in South Africa I worked on an amazing high-profile campaign with a Hollywood actress, who I can’t name here, but it was a big deal. It was quite controversial and eventually got banned, but that’s a piece of work I really enjoyed and am very proud of."
