Lizzy Holroyd is senior marketing and communications manager at Manchester Pride.
She’s worked in marketing for the likes of Smooth Radio and Bauer Media Group before joining the Manchester Pride team in 2021.
As the LGBTQ+ charity prepares for its celebrations to kick off on Friday 25th August, Holroyd shares all the lessons she’s learnt.
Which single daily habit or practice could you not do without?
Every day, I take a midday break to step out and enjoy a walk. Irrespective of the weather or my workload, I make sure to step away from my desk, put on my headphones, and take a 45-minute walk. If for any reason I can’t make it to the gym, this routine ensures I maintain a certain level of physical activity. Besides the physical benefits, it also serves as a mental recharge, helping me to sort through and organise my thoughts.
What’s been your luckiest break?
After graduating in the recession, I was told by a pushy recruiter that I wasn’t in a position to be fussy about job roles and was convinced to take a marketing job that I didn’t feel excited about. A year later, I was unhappy and wanted to switch industries, however another recruiter informed me that it would be challenging due to my limited experience.
Thankfully, around this time his colleague went on holiday, leaving a fantastic opportunity that perfectly aligned with where I wanted my career to go, and thanks to the recruiter’s strong advocacy, I secured the job that propelled me into a fulfilling decade-long career in the radio and live events industry.
What’s your best failure?
My best failure happened when I was event managing an intimate gig featuring a Brit Award winning artist, which was scheduled to be broadcast on two radio stations a few days later. The show itself was a tremendous success, with attendees having an amazing time and generating lots of positive press for both local and national radio stations.
However, there was a major oversight on my part—I hadn’t arranged for the correct equipment to record the show with broadcast quality audio. Despite frantic attempts to secure the necessary equipment from various suppliers at the last minute, everything was already booked due to it being peak festival season.
Having to tell the programming directors for both stations that the show wouldn’t be able to be broadcast was horrible. I was convinced I’d be sacked or resign due to my own embarrassment. However, one of the things I love about working in radio is how swiftly things move on. The incident, although initially feeling like the worst thing in the world, eventually faded into insignificance. We all make mistakes, and that’s something I remind my team about if they beat themselves up over little mistakes.
What is the best investment you’ve ever made, either financial or time?
The best investment I’ve ever made, both financially and in terms of time, was spending seven months living, travelling, and working in New Zealand right after I completed university and before fully diving into my career. Embarking on a solo journey to the other side of the world without a concrete plan resulted in some of the most remarkable memories and incredible experiences of my life. This adventure not only provided me with a sense of unparalleled confidence and resilience but also instilled in me an unwavering spirit of adventure that continues to shape my outlook on life.
Which podcast or book would you recommend others to read and why?
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. I loved this book and couldn’t put it down when I read it a few years back. The protagonist in this story is a misfit with a traumatic past. I read it at a time that I myself was feeling lost and grappling with PTSD, losing myself in the story helped me feel a little less alone. Although there are dark themes to this story, there is so much joy as well and it highlights power, kindness and friendship.
What one piece of advice would you give your 21-year-old self?
Speak up for yourself. I’ve always been shy and used to lack the confidence to advocate for myself. I wish I could go back in time and shake myself, telling her to stop worrying about what other people think and that life is too short to live it for other people.
Who or what has had the single biggest influence on your working life?
It’s a cliche to say your parents, but growing up they gave me and my siblings the freedom to explore our own career paths without any pressure to go one way or another. Out of the three of us, I was the one with the least direction when it came to my career, but my dad played a huge role in helping me discover my strengths and navigate them towards a career in marketing.
Beyond that, every manager I’ve ever had has influenced my working life; while some have been better than others at coaching and encouraging me, all have in some way supported me to become the type of leader I always wanted to be.
Tell us something about you that would surprise people.
I resat my final marketing assignment which in turn took my overall degree grade from a low 2:2 to one mark shy of a first. Initially, I had collaborated with someone on the assignment, but they unfortunately got injured during the Christmas holidays right before the submission deadline. As a result, we hastily pulled our work together, which showed in the mark we received.
When I saw my overall degree result, I was devastated as all of my hard work was brought down by the final collaborative project. To add to my frustration, I came to find out that my course mate was offered the opportunity to resit the assignment while I wasn’t. I decided to appeal to my university, and fortunately, my appeal was successful. I was granted the chance to redo the assignment and this time I decided to do it alone.
Over the summer, I poured my heart and soul into that work, determined to make a significant improvement. When I finally achieved the higher grade, I was elated. At the time, it felt like a monumental achievement. However, looking back 14 years later, I realise that very few people have ever asked about my specific grade or requested to see my degree certificate.
How will the COVID crisis change work for the better?
I was furloughed for several months during the COVID crisis, which provided me with time to reflect on my purpose and what makes me happy. It was during this time I realised it was time to switch things up and that I was ready for a new challenge, which led me to where I am today.
Being a part of the Manchester Pride team allows me to contribute to the lasting legacy of advancing LGBTQ+ equality and harbouring positive change for the community, which brings me immense fulfilment.
What does success look like to you?
Success to me is surpassing my own expectations, embracing change, and continuously pushing myself to new heights. Whether it’s resitting an assignment to elevate my degree grade, taking on new challenges during the COVID crisis, or venturing into the unknown by living and working in New Zealand, I have learned that true success lies in personal growth and fulfillment.
