Getting to know... Rachel Lewandowska

In the latest instalment of Bdaily’s Getting to know... feature, which looks at the person behind the business profile, Rachel Lewandowska, managing director at London-based global brand experience agency AVANTGARDE, talks about turning ideas into tangible experiences, staying calm under pressure and why a festival field is her happy place...

We know you as the managing director at AVANTGARDE, but who is the person behind the title? Tell us a little about what makes you tick…

I’m someone who thrives on energy, and I find that energy in people, ideas and being on site at events.

I love building teams as much as I love building experiences.

I’m a 'get-things-done' kind of person; super organised and probably a bit competitive.

I get a real kick out of turning a blank space into something people feel.

I’m also a mum of three, which means I’m part ringmaster, part negotiator and part logistics expert – skills that translate surprisingly well to agency life.

I like momentum, and I’m not very good at standing still.

Did you always want to work in brand experience?

Not consciously. However, looking back, it makes perfect sense.

In my early 20s, I landed an internship at a music PR agency working on The Rolling Stones and The BRIT Awards.

It was glamorous (partly). My job was sprinting SD cards from red carpet photographers to the back office, so images could be sent to media in real time.

Not quite champagne and selfies.

I vividly remember watching the event team; mic’d up, orchestrating everything and thinking, 'that’s it - that’s the job'.

My next role was at a tiny two-person event agency where I learned everything: concepting, storytelling, scamping, supplier wrangling, budgeting, chasing payments, the lot.

It was a proper hustle, but I loved it.

What’s the best bit about your job? And the worst?

The best bit by far is the people.

Brand experience brings together insanely talented creatives, producers, strategists and makers, all driven to build something immersive and memorable.

Watching audiences explore, interact and share what you’ve created is magic.

The hardest part is that the value of what we do isn’t always recognised.

It’s a competitive industry, which means the hard work our teams do behind the scenes to perfect their craft often isn’t seen.

What we create is not just an event; it’s impact, emotion and connection.

That’s hard to put a price on, but it remains incredibly powerful.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

Staying calm.

Live experiences will always throw curveballs.

Weather, talent, tech, timings. Something will wobble.

I’ve built a reputation for being the calm one in the chaos, and over the years that steadiness has given teams and clients confidence.

I’m proud of that.

On a more personal note, I’m proud of building a career I genuinely love while raising a family.

I don’t think any working mum ever feels like she’s completely cracked it, but I’m learning to let go of perfection. 

How do you relax outside of work?

Relax is ambitious with three kids, but running is my reset button.

Early mornings, loud music, blue skies – it’s the one time no one needs anything from me.

It clears my head and gives me space to think.

Some of my best ideas have come mid-run.

What makes London such a great place to live and work?

I’ve only ever worked in London, from West to East, and the city still gives me that energy every time I step off the train.

There’s a constant momentum, new ideas, new spaces, new people.

I moved to Brighton a few years ago, but I’m still in London four days a week and love the contrast.

Pre-kids, though, post-work beers in a packed London pub, dissecting the day with the team, was hard to beat. 

Tell us something about you we didn’t know…

My true happy place is the middle of a festival field, drifting between stages, discovering new music and dancing with my friends.

When I think about it, that is probably where my whole journey started.

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