Inspirational Women: Charlie Boyce

Each week, SHESAID features an inspiring woman who has been kind enough to share her story with our readers. She might be a leader in her chosen field, someone still on their own path striving to make a difference or simply someone with a remarkable story to tell. These women contribute their own knowledge, expertise and life lessons in order to truly inspire others.

Name and role:

Charlie Boyce. Founder and Director of Portobello PR – a fashion, lifestyle and beauty publicity agency.

What do you do on a day-to-day basis?

No two days are ever the same in PR but the mornings mostly start with a team catch-up and planning for the days focuses.

Daily we can swap from media showings, product launches or event planning, to pitching clients for interviews in print or on television. Social media now also plays a huge part in our daily routine.

How/when did you know you wanted to do this as a career?

I was lucky enough to meet a senior PR from a excellent UK PR company, and when I went to discuss the industry with her I realised it was the job for me.

I had (and still do) endless energy and a love for fashion, beauty and media that meant I was inspired by the environment. I’ve continued to love the industry for the last 16 years, so having my own agency has been a bonus.

Where do you find your inspiration?

A huge amount of my inspiration comes from the creative people I have surrounding me, as friends and people we collaborate with creatively such as Creative Director Al Weekes – who i often meet with for inspiration on design, branding and life in general. I am also a sponge for magazines, social media and books on anything fashion and design related.

Clients are also inspiring with their drive and passion for brands and we are lucky enough to work with great ones such as VANS, Neuw denim, Santa Vittoria and Bondi Sands tan who are all very different creatively but share a common theme of living and breathing what they have created.

Did you have a mentor? Who/what helped you to get your career off the ground?

My mentor without doubt was Mary Portas who is now known for her TV shows such as ‘Mary Queen of Shops’ and her work in the retail industry.

Mary was my first boss at her agency Yellow Door and her work continues to inspire me. I was lucky enough to see her recently when she was in Australia for a business trip, and I still find her fascinating.

What are your goals for the future?

To continue to grow my agency Portobello PR and find new ways to work with media and understand the industry as it evolves daily. Mostly I want to continue to be excited by the brands we work with.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to follow the same path as you?

Understand that it is not a 9-5 job and you need to have a passion for what you do daily, so you are willing to go the extra mile for clients.

Work experience is also an essential part of the job. As I always look for people who have shown they really want to work in the industry.

Image via This Is Collective