Each month, we’re sitting down with different members of our brilliant team to understand what creates the bold and cutting-edge work we do and find out a bit more about the person behind the work.
Say hello to our PR powerhouse & Associate Director Edwina Boyd-Gibbins, who has been with Midas for over six years, and has just returned from maternity leave. She works on some of our exciting clients such as Charco Press, Oxford University Press, Books Are My Bag Awards, Booksellers Association, Cliveden, AA Hospitality & much more! Not to mention, her work has been nominated for many prestigious PR awards, from the CIPR Awards to the PRCA DARE Awards to the PR Moment Awards, as well as receiving a Highly Commended at the PPC Awards 2021 for Bookshop.org’s UK launch campaign.
Here’s what she said.
Something I won’t shut up about is…
The BBC adaptation of Dolly Alderton’s Everything I Know About Love. I thought it was utterly perfect and I still haven’t stopped thinking about Maggie and Birdie’s star-crossed friendship. I will one day repeat Maggie’s mum’s wise words to my own daughter. To misquote: “in the warzone of life, you need a love that feels like peace”. Amen to that.
Best thing about my job is…
The passion. It sounds like a cliché, but almost everyone you meet in the publishing and wider culture sectors truly are passionate about what they do. It’s an inspirational atmosphere to be in, and working on projects you really believe in makes the job a pleasure. Likewise, being part of a PR agency like Midas gives you the opportunity to work with an incredibly broad range of clients. Right now my clients include: a brilliant independent publisher with an incredible list of literary fiction; a literary festival with the one of the best author line-ups of 2022; a project at the Venice Film Festival; one of the UK’s leading hospitality organisations; and consultancy for a unique children’s festival. It’s impossible to get bored!
I got to where I am today by…
Having the courage to side-step. Before Midas I was a publicist in the advertising world, but I always knew books and culture were my calling. While it was tempting to stay in the familiar environment of advertising, I am so glad I took a leap of faith and joined Midas seven years ago. It was daunting to move at the time, and in many ways felt like starting again, but as publicists we have so many transferrable skills and moving into an area you’re passionate about really is possible – and so worth it.
In my spare time, I like to…
Take my toddler to the library to feed her (and my) Julia Donaldson addiction; go for long walks in the countryside where I live (ideally with a pub stop somewhere along the route); and visit the theatre (we’re very lucky to have two brilliant theatres in Guildford where I live).
One thing I wish I knew at the start of my career is…
Nothing in life is linear. It’s so important to be open to trying new things as what you’re best at and what you enjoy might surprise you.
Follow Midas’ latest updates on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn
#MidasMeets
