Each month, we sit down with different members of our brilliant team to understand what drives the bold and cutting-edge work we do and find out a bit more about the person behind the work.
Up next in our Midas Meets series is Emily Laidlaw, Senior Account Executive, who joined us from The London Book Fair, where she worked in their marketing department and customer relations team. Her previous experience includes working in communications in Australia at Writers Victoria and Blak and Bright Writers Festival. At Midas, Emily works across a range of books, festivals and awards including authors such as Kim Samuel, Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize, Waterstones Children’s Laureate and much more.
Here’s what she has to say…
Something I won’t shut up about is…
How much I love libraries! They do such vital work in local communities, from providing warm banks during the winter months to coffee sessions for the elderly and story times for young children. Also, who doesn’t love free books?!
Best thing about my job is…
Being able to work across my two passions: publishing and the media. Throughout any PR campaign, it’s fascinating to lift the lid on how the media gets made and know that you’re playing a part in shaping – for example – a radio segment or magazine feature. I’m a bit of a news junkie, so one of my favourite parts is thinking about how the books, prizes, or festivals I work on can contribute to current conversations in the media.
I got to where I am today by…
Believing in my transferable skills and being curious enough to try new things. In the past I’ve zigzagged between jobs in copywriting, marketing, and event management but the common thread has always been books and culture. ‘Comms’ is a versatile skill which can open many different doors, and being a creative communicator is essential to PR.
In my spare time, I like to…
Walk! London is an amazing city to discover on foot, and I love nothing more than to put on my headphones and pound the pavement. Hampstead Heath is my favourite little oasis in London and when it’s warm enough you can find me relaxing at its swimming ponds.
One thing I wish I knew at the start of my career is…
While it’s important to be ambitious and work hard towards a career that is meaningful to you, it is every bit as important to make time for friends and family and have a well-rounded life outside the 9-5 – after all, life is too short to spend your days arguing with an Excel spreadsheet!
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