What is International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day commemorates the social, economic, cultural and political accomplishments of women around the world. Through these efforts, perceptions and attitudes are being challenged and redefined.
#BeBoldForChange
This year International Women’s Day is challenging us to #BeBoldForChange.
Despite seeing a large improvement in the amount of women in business in the past 10 years there is still room for change. In the tech world, a recent Silicon Valley Bank report found that ‘Women are underrepresented in C-level positions: 58% of UK startups report they have no women in these positions’.
Here at Urban Massage, we’ve always proudly celebrated diversity and hence, have a culture that fosters it. We have women working at all levels of the company making a huge impact and we’re excited to see that continue as we grow. We hope to lead by example and set a precedent for others in our industry, to challenge the status quo and #BeBoldForChange!
Will you #BeBoldForChange? Pledge how you will make a difference at the end of this article.
International Women’s Day 2017 at Urban Massage
In honour of celebrating the journey and empowerment of women in the working environment, we have asked some the women at Urban Massage’s HQ to share a little about their roles and career achievements.
Lucy Rest
1. What is your role at Urban Massage?
Therapist Operations Manager – A Therapist Operations Manager is responsible for all UK on-boarding, managing Therapist Operations Assistant and Ambassadors, quality control for all Therapist Operations and working with Senior Supply Manager to implement large products to improve the service for Therapist Partners.
2. Briefly describe your career path up to date?
I graduated from Bath University with a degree in Sports Therapy, worked alongside a local adult male football and rugby team as their allocated Sports Therapist. I then moved onto Charlton Athletic as an under 18 academy Sports Therapist, worked pitch side for all acute conditions and supporting any players undergoing rehabilitation. Whilst working in Sport part-time, I also worked for a rehabilitation provider performing medical assessments for clients and referring for appropriate treatment and then again in a similar role for a law firm with clients with a more advanced clinical presentation.
I have always also practiced privately as a Sports Massage Therapist both mobile and from home. I have developed a love for combining manual remedial techniques with holistic, alternative and spa-quality treatments.
3. What’s been the best moment of your career, so far?
I joined UM a year ago and have really found something that I love, I get to combine my passion and knowledge of anatomy and therapy with my love for people and find my role at UM very rewarding.
4. What was the best advice you’ve ever received?
Always focus on the positives!
Laura Haynes 
1. What is your role at Urban Massage?
Head of People and Talent
2. Briefly describe your career path up to date?
Background in recruitment and talent as an occupational psychologist and for a few large corporates
3. What’s been the best moment of your career, so far?
It’s always been hearing from people that I’ve made a difference in their career whether through direct advice or larger scale organisational changes, as cheesy as that is it’s the most rewarding part for me.
4. What was the best advice you’ve ever received?
To bring yourself to work in terms of being true to yourself, doing what makes you happy and playing to your strengths – and encourage others to do the same.
Elsa Favario
1. What is your role at Urban Massage?
Senior Supply Manager
2. Briefly describe your career path up to date?
I graduated with an International Business and Marketing degree and after I worked 4 years in marketing at Bicester Village. I then moved on to Urban Massage to undertake the supply manager role as well as helping launch the business in new countries.
3. What’s been the best moment of your career, so far?
When we saw the first bookings coming through for the French market and the great feedback from both therapists and users after Jack, the CEO and I had been working super hard for a couple of months to make it happen.
4. What was the best advice you’ve ever received?
If you can’t be good, be great
Kim Smith
1. What is your role at Urban Massage?
Head of Customer Services
2. Briefly describe your career path up to date?
Worked as an Ad Manager in newspapers for 18 years, then ran my own VA business for 3 yrs before joining UM from day one!
3. What’s been the best moment of your career, so far?
Building the CS team from scratch.
4. What was the best advice you’ve ever received?
Treat other people how you would like to be treated yourself.
Carina Schubert
1. What is your role at Urban Massage?
Marketing Manager
2. Briefly describe your career path up to date?
Studied Corporate Communication and Executive Management, spent 1,5 years in the US studying abroad and doing a Fulbright Teaching Assistant year, worked as a marketing assistant and now as a marketing manager.
3. What’s been the best moment of your career, so far?
Helping to bring an innovative concept to Vienna.
4. What was the best advice you’ve ever received?
No matter what you do, you always learn something!
Julia Mende
1. What is your role at Urban Massage?
City Manager Vienna
2. Briefly describe your career path up to date?
When I became City Manager for Urban Massage Vienna in October 2016 an exciting journey started for me. I had my own company and lots of experience in marketing and business development before but establishing an international start-up in Vienna was a whole other level of adventure and a real challenge.
3. What’s been the best moment of your career, so far?
Urban Massage went online in January 2017 and is very successful so far. We are still looking for additional therapists to join our team and even added shiatsu to our offer which is very popular in Austria.
4. What was the best advice you’ve ever received?
Winners never quit and quitters never win” and that’s also what I have learned from this experience so far – don’t stop believing, working hard and doing your best and eventually you will succeed.
Bridget Cuming
1. What is your role at Urban Massage?
Management Accountant
2. Briefly describe your career path up to date?
After graduating from University in 2012 I spent three and a half years working for Grant Thornton NZ in financial services where I became fully qualified as a Chartered Accountant.
3. What’s been the best moment of your career, so far?
The move to London has been a highlight and it is great to be a part of a company right in the heart of the exciting tech start up space at the moment.
4. What was the best advice you’ve ever received?
Surround yourself with good people, and focus on what success means to you, not others!
Essi Jussila
1. What is your role at Urban Massage?
Marketing Manager UK
2. Briefly describe your career path up to date?
Graduated from the University of Warwick with an MSc in Intercultural Communications, have worked in social media, digital marketing and events in startups and large companies previously.
3. What’s been the best moment of your career, so far?
Being able to have the responsibilities and opportunities of a manager
As a young woman, it’s something that is an overall best moment in what is only the beginning of my career.
4. What was the best advice you’ve ever received?
Do what you love and love what you do.
Abigail Miller
1. What is your role at Urban Massage?
SEO Manager – I sit within the marketing team and work closely with the product team who manage the website and app. My role uses a balance of creative and technical skills, using data to guide Urban Massage’s content whilst making sure it fits Google’s best practices.
2. What’s been the best moment of your career, so far?
Despite having a good degree under my belt, along with thousands of other recent graduates, I struggled to find a break during the recession.
With the support of my parents, I transformed my passion for cooking into a career. I qualified as a pastry chef, working in 5* hotels and restaurants. Being the only women in a kitchen of 15 is challenging, to say the least, but also character building. After 4 years, I left the kitchen looking for a career where I could gain new skills in a business environment.
I trained up as an SEO in a small team within a marketing agency, exposing me to high profile clients with large budgets in a short amount of time. My managers and peers facilitated my success through their leadership and support. 5 years later I have managed the SEO of some of the world’s largest brands, had experience as a marketer in Boston and now I’m the SEO manager of a thriving start-up.
3. What’s been the best moment of your career, so far?
Presenting in-front of over 40 CHANEL executives on the uses of search and social data.
(As a chef it was my month at the Fat Duck!)
4. What was the best advice you’ve ever received?
The best career guidance I have received comes in the form of an example set by mother, Diane. She has enjoyed a successful career in finance, being listed as one of the Top 100 Women in Finance.