Meet the Talent Manager team

• What’s your job title at TM and what do you do?

Customer Success Manager.  I look after all our PRO company users, help maximise growth opportunities for the business, work across our networking events and conduct talks and workshops for graduates looking to work in the TV and Film industry.

• How did you get into this line of work?

I've worked in customer relations for over 20 years starting at The Financial Times in the late 90s. I then moved into TV recruitment by taking a job as Online Services Manager at ProductionBase in 2002. After my stint there, I set up and ran UK Music Jobs, the UK's leading online networking and recruitment platform for the music industry, for 15 years.

• When did you know that you had found the right career?

I'm a people pleaser and this is the one job where it comes in very handy, so I think I knew pretty early on.

• What do you love most about what you do?

I love working with a dynamic team of professionals who know how to get the job done but with a sense of humour.

• What is the biggest thing you've learned over the last 10 years of your career?

Be prepared, be present and keep your cool.

• What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

Conflict is everywhere, in every walk of life.  Don't take it personally, breathe and ask yourself if you'll feel the same way tomorrow before you respond.

• What’s your most-used productivity hack?

Schedule everything in your calendar and set reminders.  Also, make notes in meetings and transcribe as quickly as possible so you have a clear memory of what was said.

• Tell us a surprising or a fun fact about you.

I'm a non-identical twin.

• What’s your job title at TM and what do you do?

Customer Support Specialist, I am on hand to answer any question on your account, job postings or applications for both freelancers and companies.

• How did you get into this line of work?

I’ve been working in the support role for over 6 years at the Ministry of Justice, TM has given me the opportunity to use that experience but in the field of TV.

• When did you know that you had found the right career?

When you go into the office every day and are looking forward to what the day may hold.

• What do you love most about what you do?

I love that no two days are the same.

• What is the biggest thing you've learned over the last 10 years of your career?

Things are always changing so don’t be afraid of change, welcome it.

• What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

 If it doesn’t make you happy then move on

• What’s your most-used productivity hack?

 Make sure to give yourself a 5–10-minute break every hour

• Tell us a surprising or a fun fact about you.

  I speak 3 languages

• What’s your job title at TM and what do you do?

Content and Community Manager - I manage all our social media posts and content across the usual platforms as well as the TM Hub, our own networking feed. I also host our regular webinars and careers sessions and work closely with my colleague Matt on the networking events we organise and run with our pro companies.

• How did you get into this line of work?

I started my career in TV when I graduated from uni and worked my way up the career ladder to P/D level, working mainly on reality TV shows such as Big Brother. Once I had my two kids, I left TV and set up my own company making wedding videos but after my business closed as a result of COVID, I came back into TV land again working for Talent Manager.

• When did you know that you had found the right career?

My first proper runners job was working on a DIY show, travelling round Europe - I loved the energy and the creativity of being part of a production (even if I was mainly painting walls for Carol Smillie!) and of meeting and learning from all sorts of people, both those on my team but also the contributors I met from the shows I made. 

• What do you love most about what you do?

I love the creativity at TM and the flexibility we have to suggest tangible ideas that benefit the freelance community that are actioned. I also love hosting our regular webinar sessions - meeting all these inspirational TV industry leaders is a real privilege and I am proud that we are able to offer such helpful sessions to our TM community.

• What is the biggest thing you've learned over the last 10 years of your career?

There is always a solution - even if it means a compromise. Nobody is perfect and you can't please everyone but eventually hard work does pay off.

• What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

Don't be scared of failure - it's where you learn the most about yourself. Don't shy away from change - no real growth can come from staying in your comfort zone.

• What’s your most-used productivity hack?

Work smart - as long as you get the work done, do it whatever way works best for you.

• Tell us a surprising or a fun fact about you.

I was on Dragons' Den and won!

• What’s your job title at TM and what do you do?

Developer - I work on the TM website and app to build new features and make sure everything runs smoothly! Have worked with TM from the beginning, I built the original site in 2010.

• How did you get into this line of work?

Since the late 90s I built several websites and worked on other web projects in the media sector. The idea of TM and the vision of Matt & Sarah attracted me to the project.

• When did you know that you had found the right career?

When TM launched we received a lot of positive feedback from people on how it helped them build a career in the industry - this was a great incentive.

• What do you love most about what you do?

Fixing problems for people on the TM website and adding functionality and features to make their lives easier.

• What is the biggest thing you've learned over the last 10 years of your career?

Always develop.

• What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

KISS - Keep it simple (stupid!)

• What’s your most-used productivity hack?

Not really a hack, but if I get stuck on a bug or problem a 10 min break (to make a cup of tea or quick walk round the block) usually sorts it out!

• Tell us a surprising or a fun fact about you.

• What’s your job title at TM and what do you do?

I’m the CTO Chief Technology Officer

• How did you get into this line of work?

I started my career at Barclays Bank and found I had a talent in software development.

• When did you know that you had found the right career?

In my late 20s (...over 20 years ago!)

• What do you love most about what you do?

The opportunity to work collaboratively with the great team at TM to support the freelance community and companies who are platform members.

• What is the biggest thing you've learned over the last 10 years of your career?

Patience.

• What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

Give care to even the smallest tasks.

• What’s your most-used productivity hack?

Listen to productive music

• Tell us a surprising or a fun fact about you.

I collect trainers and have over 100 pairs!

• What’s your job title at TM and what do you do?

I'm the Creative Director and TM Founder. I am responsible for shaping the editorial direction of the platform and making high level decisions. I love the creative elements of the job - figuring out what tools to build to help solve problems the community have as well as overseeing the development pipeline.

• How did you get into this line of work?

I was formerly a TV Producer/Director working in documentaries and science programming making stuff predominantly for BBC and C4.  I went into this line of work after having my daughter Maya who is now 22. At the time I really struggled juggling life with a baby and work life 'on the road'. In those days the 'lot' of working mums was even more dire than it is today!

• When did you know that you had found the right career?

On my first TV production! I had a dipped my toes into a number of other options career wise and after a particularly unhappy 'mini pupillage' at a barrister chambers I remember making a decision to follow my heart.

• What do you love most about what you do?

I always loved working in TV because I like 'making things'. Building, developing and growing a platform to help creatives connect has given me the same satisfaction.

• What is the biggest thing you've learned over the last 10 years of your career?

To be more ambitious. I tell my kids this now. I think being ambitious takes confidence and confidence can develop with age.

• What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

If you feel you are doing the right thing with something keep going - as long as you keep 'doing the right thing by people' in mind too - all come good eventually.

• What’s your most-used productivity hack?

Teams task manager.

• Tell us a surprising or a fun fact about you.

As a kid I always rocked at the 'dry cream cracker' challenge. For some reason I could always eat more 'dry Jacob’s crackers' than anyone else at the fair!

• What’s your job title at TM and what do you do? 

I'm Managing Director. What does it involve? I'd like to say ''managing'' and ''directing'' but most of them time it's more a case of just about coping. Day to day I spend a lot of time helping oversee our DV Talent training school. 

• How did you get into this line of work?

I used to be a newspaper journalist. Towards the end of my time on Fleet Street, I'd become a specialist writing about TV and the media so I knew a fair amount about the industry. Joining DV Talent felt like a fairly natural progression. 

• What do you love most about what you do? 

I enjoy dealing with people, working on ideas on how we can develop the services we offer and then trying to make them happen. The most gratifying element is the feedback we get from our training courses, keeping track of our alumni and seeing them thrive.  

• What is the biggest thing you've learned over the last 10 years of your career? 

That things are rarely as bad as they seem.  Crises and downturns can be all-consuming when you're in the midst of them but having got through several recessions, Covid, and myriad other upheavals that seemed existential at the time I've learnt how important it is simply to be resilient, keep pluggling away and try not to worry too much. You will get through it.  (That's the theory, at least.) 

• What is the best advice you’ve ever received? 

The best advice: ''Life's a bridge; don't build a house on it.'' The second best advice was given to me by Helen Suzman, the great anti-apartheid campaigner: ''Use two ...'' Interpret that anyway you wish ... 

• What’s your most-used productivity hack? 

My daily list. 

• Tell us a surprising or a fun fact about you. 

My cousin is Olivia Newton-John.

• What’s your job title at TM and what do you do? 

I’m the Manager at The Kit Room, I oversee the daily comings and goings at The Kit Room. 

• How did you get into this line of work?   

Having studied photography at University I worked as a photographic assistant, eventually moving on to shooting my own projects. I then transitioned from stills to shooting motion and videos. I was lucky enough to shoot all over the world in some amazing locations before settling down to work in the rental industry. 

• When did you know that you had found the right career?   

The Kit Room felt like a great fit from the beginning, working with a friendly team of people who genuinely cared about what they do.  Here I was able to combine my experience as a camera person with my knowledge from working previous rental companies. 

• What do you love most about what you do? 

I think we can really help in making a production run smoothly, it’s great when we get feedback that we have made a real difference.

• What is the biggest thing you've learned over the last 10 years of your career? 

Building relationships is hugely important. We really strive to look after our clients, and many have been with us from the beginning.

• What is the best advice you’ve ever received? 

Remember that everyone you meet has experienced something you have not. 

• What’s your most-used productivity hack? 

Using multiple screens, it’s the only way to see everything that’s going on. 

• Tell us a surprising or a fun fact about you. 

I was the first ever member of the public to ride on the “Depth Charge” ride at Thorpe Park. I was 8 years old and dressed as a pirate!

• What’s your job title at TM and what do you do?

I am the Bookings Manager for The Kit Room. I’ll be one of your first points of contact and involved throughout you hire with us - from the initial quote, to the final invoice, and any support that might be needed in between.

• How did you get into this line of work?

I have previously worked in TV, taking roles all the way up to Shooting AP. I’ve worked on a lot of different styles of show – studio, drama, obs doc, factual and entertainment. It’s allowed me to travel the world filming in challenging conditions – such as the middle of the Amazon Rainforest and sub-zero temperatures in the Alps – to rigging cameras to cars, and filming game show run throughs. I’ve had a lot of technical hands on in the field experience, which I am able to transfer to my current role, being able to greater understand the requirements of each shoot.

• When did you know that you had found the right career?  

I was always destined to do something creative with myself. Art and creativity are my motivation in life. 

• What do you love most about what you do?

Helping create all kinds of content by providing equipment, advise and solutions.

• What is the biggest thing you've learned over the last 10 years of your career?

There’s always a way to achieve your goals, and its ok if those goals shift.

• What is the best advice you’ve ever received 

You should probably marry her, before she comes to her senses.

• What’s your most-used productivity hack?

Lists. Make them. Mark them off. Change them. Add to them.

• Tell us a surprising or a fun fact about you.

I have performed on stage at The Royal Albert Hall.

• What’s your job title at TM and what do you do?

I’m in charge of maintenance, repairs, spares & consumables, preparation and check-in of all rental kit in The Kit Room’s inventory, supervising the other Kit Room Technicians, and technical advice & support to clients and the rest of the team

• How did you get into this line of work?

After gaining a BEng (Honours) Degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering, I began a staff career at the BBC as a broadcast TV Studio Engineer progressing to Studio Resource Engineer. I later worked as a freelance Lighting Camera Operator with some Director of Photography jobs, and guest lecturing at Greenwich University. Deciding I needed a staff job again I joined The Kit Room as a Head Kit Room Technician

• When did you know that you had found the right career?

Always wanted to work in Film or TV, so very early on

• What do you love most about what you do?

 Variety, and cool colleagues

• What is the biggest thing you've learned over the last 10 years of your career?

Mistakes happen - don’t look for blame, learn from them so less likely to happen in future, but don’t stress over them afterwards

• What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. Ferris Bueller, 1986

• What’s your most-used productivity hack?

Make concise, legible, date stamped notes that you’ll still understand coming back to them months later

• Tell us a surprising or a fun fact about you?

I’m surprisingly bad at breaking world records. Not got any, not one!

• What’s your job title at TM and what do you do? 

Kit Technician, I prep bookings, test kit when it’s been returned and provide technical support to clients.

• How did you get into this line of work?

I started at the Kit Room after studying Film and TV Production at university and working at equipment rental department there. 

• When did you know that you had found the right career? 

I’m far too young to have a career.

• What do you love most about what you do? 

Solving new and unusual technical issues and coming across problems I haven’t seen before.

• What is the biggest thing you've learned over the last 10 years of your career?

Dismantling and reassembling an FS7 Loupe.

• What is the best advice you’ve ever received? 

If you don’t know something, Google it or read the manual. 

• What’s your most-used productivity hack? 

When you finish a task eat a biscuit, as a reward. If you are struggling to finish a task eat a biscuit, for motivation. If you feel like eating a biscuit, eat a biscuit.

• Tell us a surprising or a fun fact about you. 

I did a PowerPoint presentation about the film Mamma Mia, featuring a runtime analysis complete with spreadsheet, bar charts and pie graphs. (It was lockdown.) The film is 53.6% musical numbers and the longest break between songs is between ‘Honey Honey’ and ‘Money Money Money’ at 8 minutes and 42 seconds.

• What’s your job title at TM and what do you do? 

Kit Room Technician/booker/marketing

• How did you get into this line of work?

I have worked within the kit rental industry for a total of 5 years but from the stills side. Since then I have worked as a lens rehousing Engineer, and within a my local college as their Photography and media technician, also earning teaching qualifications and teaching three classes a week before I found myself at The Kit Room.

• What do you love most about what you do? 

Technical side of the job is my passion, problem solving and cleaning of equipment are where I find satisfaction. 

• What is the biggest thing you've learned over the last 10 years of your career? 

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• What is the best advice you’ve ever received? 

You've got to eat a shovel of muck before you die.  

• What’s your most-used productivity hack? 

Genmai-Cha

• Tell us a surprising or a fun fact about you. 

I have practised Freestyle Nunchaku for 14 years and intend to compete internationally.