By Agency Works 
Next up in our Meet the Team series, it’s Kate Vincent, Senior Sales Consultant, Beaver Scout leader and Broadway lover...
Tell us about your early career? How did you end up here?
"When I was at school I really wanted to be on the stage but I eventually took the more sensible option of studying for a degree in information and communications. I worked in recruitment when I first left university, and then ops and HR.
"My husband (Steve) is one of the founders of Agency Works, so I was here from the beginning helping out with admin and HR bits. I had a brief spell as a pre-school teacher, for around five years, while my own kids were little, but ultimately realised Agency Works was where I really wanted to be, so when the opportunity came up to re-join Agency Works in a New Business role I jumped on it."
What do you enjoy most about your role? What's the best thing about Agency Works?
"I really enjoy chatting to new people, getting to know them and listening to their requirements. For me, sales is not about the hard sell, it's more about that nurturing process, listening and taking a consultative approach. I think there's a reason why you've got two ears and only one mouth.
"It’s a great team to be part of too. They're really friendly and we all love a good night out! Even though we work in a hybrid way and aren’t necessarily in the office at the same time you always know that there's an event coming up soon where you can get together and catch up."
What do you like most about agency life?
"I love that agencies are full of fun people. I remember early on in my career going to visit a big agency over in Leeds. As I left the meeting, the FD said to me ‘Do you want to leave by the stairs or the curly slide?’, and I think that just highlights what the agency landscape is like. It's just fun, and they are really nice people to deal with."
What value do clients get from working with you? What do you bring to the role?
"I like doing my research, so that I can bring empathy and knowledge to the discussion. I want our prospective clients to know they’re valued. I think that comes from getting to know a person and remembering stuff we’ve talked about. I’m a bit of an elephant! I've got a really good memory, so I can usually remember minor details they may have thrown into the conversation.
"Because I’ve worked with agencies for more than 15 years I feel as if I can bring a lot of understanding to what our clients go through, and I genuinely love making a difference."
It’s really nice to hear from them at the end of their journey, when they've taken on Synergist and it’s totally transformed the way they’re working.
What would you be doing if you weren't in this job?
"I’d be Elphaba! I'd be green, singing, defying gravity…
"Being on the West End stage was my ambition when I was younger. From the age of three all I wanted to do was sing and dance and be on the stage. I was in all the school productions and did lots of stuff outside school too, drama clubs, singing lessons... And I’ve seen Wicked about seven times now – it’s my absolute favourite musical.
"All the way through school, right up to A-levels, I was singing and acting but my father was very much of the opinion that if you went to university, you went to do a degree in business or something."
Any unfulfilled life ambitions?
"I really love travelling and we try and get away as often as we can. I always like to have a little trip in the diary to look forward to, even if it's just a weekend break or a short hop over to Europe.
"I want to see as much of the world as I possibly can. New Zealand is on my bucket list, and Steve and I both really want to go on safari in South Africa. I just want to see as much of the world as we possibly can in the time that we're here."
What do you like doing when you're not at work?
"I'm a Beaver Scout leader so I spend a lot of time planning and organising activities for six-year-olds. I'm known to them as Teddy. Some colonies name all their leaders after trees or plants or some kind of theme, but in ours they just asked the children what they thought we should be called and that’s what I ended up with!
"Away from that, I’m still a huge theatre fan, there’s very few musicals I haven't seen. I’m word-perfect on a lot of the more traditional ones. There’s a little group of us, my sisters and my best friend, who travel all over the country for various things at different times of the year, and my daughter’s joined in with that now which is lovely."
And finally, any interesting talents or claims to fame?
"I can still hold a tune. You’ll occasionally find me on the karaoke but, it's difficult to get up and start belting out a West End banger. That’s not really what people want to hear. These days it’s more a case of me singing on my own in the car as I drive down the M6!"
