Laura Bamber is one of three co-founders at The Vibrancy Hub, a female-founded workplace wellbeing consultancy.
Between them, the co-founders understand the media industry well, and the pressures, through previous roles across iProspect and in marketing at THG and New Balance.
Based in Manchester, the company works with clients such as WeWork and Clearscore on how to prioritise wellbeing in the workplace through coaching and workshops.
Here, Bamber shares all the lessons she has learnt.
Which single daily habit or practice could you not do without?
When I wake up, I make a cup of tea and then go back to bed with my journal to write ‘Morning Pages’. This is a practice I’ve been doing for years from the book The Artist’s Way and the intention is to clear brain sludge to make space for creative ideas and clarity of thought. All kinds of crap comes out during these morning pages – fears, negative self talk, to do lists that unhelpfully clog up my brain – and it feels like a real mind detox so my brain can be used for the good stuff!
What’s been your luckiest break?
Being born into a family that could afford to expose me to lots of incredible opportunities – education, travel and experiences that have inspired me through my life. I took most of this for granted when I was a kid but as I age I become more aware of my privilege and I intend to use this to do some good for humans in this world.
What’s your best failure?
My failure to get married and have babies! After splitting from a long term relationship in my late 20s I remained single for all of my 30s as the rest of my friends were getting married and having babies. This period of time provided such an incredible opportunity for me – to develop a deep understanding of myself, to build incredible female friendships, to unlearn all of the things I had been taught about love, sex and relationships, to work out what I am crazy passionate about and to build a business aligned to this passion.
My goodness there have many many moments when I have craved the closeness and intimacy of a romantic relationship AND I am grateful for the opportunity to explore the world (inner and outer) on my own. Despite what society makes us think…there is no one way to be happy, content and fulfilled in relationship. For a long time I felt like I was swimming against the tide and now I understand what wisdom this path has offered to me.
What is the best investment you’ve ever made, either financial or time?
My one way plane ticket to Sydney. It was the first time I had really pushed myself outside of my comfort zone in a big way. Living there for six years in my late 20s completely shifted the trajectory of my life. The discomfort, the loneliness, the burnout mixed in with the joy, the adventure and the new experiences were the catalysts for such an epic period of growth in my life.
Which book would you recommend others to read and why?
I was going to say, “All women should read ‘Wild Power’”, which is about unlocking the magic of your menstrual cycle and aligning to a more natural, cyclical way of being. But I will amend that to say “Everyone should read Wild Power!”
This world was built for men by men and I believe that there is a huge knowledge gap for us all when it comes to understanding women – our cycles, our desires, our fears and what we need to thrive in this world. EVERYONE will benefit if the world takes the time to listen to women and to understand women – really understand women. This is how we will achieve the equality and the balance that is so deeply missing in this world, at this time.
What one piece of advice would you give your 21-year-old self?
Absolutely nothing! I’d let that little madam make all of the same mistakes all over again! I believe every mistake / wrong turn / failure is meant for us and is the most rich learning experience and I could not possibly deprive myself of any of them! Hang on – maybe I would tell myself not to pluck my eyebrows into oblivion…as there will come a day when bushy eyebrows are en vogue!!! The time I would now save colouring in the gaps!
Who or what has had the single biggest influence on your working life?
Working within a really toxic culture that was so unbelievably misaligned to my values and made me utterly miserable! My one bad job! It was the kick up the a**s I needed to refocus on doing the work that brought me joy and that lit up my soul. It essentially led to the conception of The Vibrancy Hub…and now I come to work every day knowing that I am living out my purpose through the work I do.
Tell us something about you that would surprise people.
I love being naked! And I dream about one day living in a commune in the sunshine, near the sea where we all walk around naked and start our day with communal skinny dips in the sea. It is the most liberating thing in the world for me!
How will the COVID crisis change work for the better?
It gave us all a huge moment of introspection. To get off the hamster wheel of keeping on doing what we have always been doing and in the stillness, to re-forge a connection with ourselves. It was a chance to pause and allow ourselves to re-imagine what our working life could look like.
A working life that means that we are more inspired, balanced and energised versions of ourselves. A working life that looks at our career impact over the long term instead of pushing for the short term gains. This feels really bloody hard at the moment as we feel the tension of do we / don’t we return to life before COVID.
The organisations that will thrive will be the ones with the leaders who are willing to really listen to the needs of its people and to carefully manage this alongside the needs of the business and sit in the awkward chaos without forcing solutions. This requires a huge leap from the leaders of our organisations – but I remain ever optimistic and cannot wait to see the business that emerge from this thriving!
What does success look like to you?
The Vibrancy Hub continues to grow slowly and we continue to work with more interesting, heart-centred businesses to promote greater gender equality and to inspire more leaders to have greater impact by shining their uniqueness onto the world.
Building a team of diverse minds and aligned souls where we continue to challenge each other and love each other in equal measure. Building a beautiful business that facilitates my passion for travel and adventure and encourages the whole team to re-imagine how their work life gets to look. Earning enough money that I get to make a real difference with charitable work and have greater social impact. Never stopping learning and growing and connecting and finding joy.
