Louise Howells is co-founder of Riot & Rebel, a web design agency in Manchester.
Since being founded by Louise Howells and Alex Dixon in 2018, the agency has worked with clients including Ben Stokes England Cricket Captain, Manchester-based film production company Eight Engines and City Superhost, a nationwide Airbnb property management service.
From how she first entered the industry to savvy words of advice, Howells shares her life and career journey so far…
How did you first get into your industry?
I started my tech career 21 years ago as an apprentice on an IT helpdesk. College didn’t feel like the right fit, and the ‘earn while you learn’ approach was very appealing. Living in a remote part of the UK, saving for a car was high on my priority list.
What do you love about your job?
There’s a real excitement in collaborating with different companies, understanding their challenges, and assisting them with their new website. Delving into the ‘why’ and really getting under the hood of their needs is something I always enjoy and get a real kick out of.
On a more personal note I love the autonomy of running my own business. After years of the 9-5, the flexibility and varied challenges that come with owning your own business were a welcome change. It’s also allowed me to experiment with new ventures too, such as my leadership coaching business and new manager course.
Who – or what – has inspired you in your career?
I’m inspired by things and people that align with what I want in my own life. I see my career as part of my life, and not something separate. I’ve found a few people have articulated this particularly well and helped me realise that I didn’t have to follow traditional ways of working and that I could actually create my own path.
This ranges from celebrities, CEO’s who I’ve worked alongside with, and in recent years Ryan Serhant (he’s a real estate agent in New York, which has nothing to do with websites, I know), but I’ve followed his career for a little while now. His dedication and resilience are unreal. It reminds me if it were easy, everyone would run their own business.
What are the biggest challenges about your job?
Switching off and finding balance. When you own a company, it’s hard to fully disconnect. My mind is constantly buzzing with new ideas — it’s a double-edged sword.
What skills have been the most crucial to you succeeding in your career so far?
Empathy, listening, and understanding. I believe these are crucial in any role. If you can truly understand a business and its problems, you can genuinely help them. For example, no one actually needs a website; they need something that will help them succeed as a business. You need to first understand why they exist, what they’re struggling with, and what success looks like for them.
What was your first salary and what could someone getting into the industry expect to earn nowadays?
My first salary was around £13k. For an entry-level job in tech now, you’d be looking at around £25k for a role in Manchester, but this can go north of £70k with more experience.
What education or training would be most useful for someone looking to follow your career path?
Problem-solving training is invaluable and transferable to many different jobs. Whether addressing a user’s needs on a website or managing and understanding issues within a team, the skill is highly applicable in various situations.
What advice would you have for someone looking to follow your path?
Be eager to learn. Seek mentors and absorb knowledge like a sponge. Take on tasks others avoid and find ways to stand out. Embrace responsibility, don’t shy away from it.
