Then and now... Monica Green

In the latest instalment of Bdaily’s Then and now series, Monica Green, co-owner and director at Partners PR, based at Nether Poppleton on the outskirts of York, reflects on her career, from her first role to the present day, highlighting the lessons she has learned from her personal and professional evolution.

You’re co-owner and director at Partners PR in York. What does your role entail?

Like many small business owners, I wear several hats.

I play an active role in looking after our clients, as well as new business development and managing the finance and operations of the business.

Did you always want to work in PR? Or did you have other ambitions when you were growing up?

I knew I wanted to write as a profession, so I wanted to be a journalist or an English teacher. 

I listened to a careers talk at university, discovered PR as a career option and loved it.

What was your first job – and did you enjoy it?

I had a Saturday job in a sports shop.  

I’m quite an organised person, so I enjoyed keeping the shelves stocked and looking tidy.

But I didn’t enjoy being on my feet all day, regardless of how comfy the shoes were!

Were there any mentors or individuals that helped shape your career? And are you still applying lessons you learned then to your workforce of today?

I worked alongside a former journalist at a PR agency in Leeds for five years and, without realising it, I absorbed his interviewing, writing and strategic PR skills. 

He gave me the confidence to progress in my career by being such a great role model. 

I try to be a role model for others now by sharing my knowledge and experience, and continue to invest in the Partners PR team to progress their careers. 

What attracted you to the PR sector?

I like the variety that PR offers, both in the diversity of sectors and businesses that we work with, and the type of service we provide – from crisis communications and social media to strategic advice and content creation.

How do you feel you’ve changed as a person over the years? Have career roles brought new dimensions to your personality?

Becoming a business owner has certainly taken me out of my comfort zone.  

Being responsible for other people being able to pay their mortgages really focuses the mind on business success.  

Success depends on great people, so my business partner Karen Tinkler and I make sure we look after our team. 

You’ve seen many changes to the employment world across your career – how do you see the workplace evolving in years to come?

One of the biggest changes has been the impact of COVID-19 in accelerating working from home practices.  

We’ve fully embraced this as a business, as we only need a laptop and can work from anywhere.  

We also offer a high level of flexible working, giving our team a great work/life balance.  

I can see this continuing in our sector for the long term.

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