Thanks to Helen Murphy for taking time to share her thoughts on being true to yourself and insights into her inspirations both at Dufrain and in her day-to-day life. Helen is an Associate Director and our Head of Marketing & Communications based in Edinburgh who has been with Dufrain since 2022. Read her thoughts below.
1. Tell us a little bit about what you do?
I specialise in several areas. Where to start? My day-to-day involves leading our marketing and communication efforts, encompassing a wide range of strategies and tactics. This includes building our brand reputation and perception, as well as creating demand for what Dufrain offers. My responsibilities vary from developing strategies to building relationships in specific verticals to executing tactical activities like boosting our brand through podcasts or managing responses to live events such as consumer duty with PR. I work with exceptional internal and external teams to ensure this is brought to life. Additionally, I oversee internal communications and our internal networks, working closely with the business to continually enhance our communications.
Outside of this, I play a key role in our senior leadership team, contributing to driving our business forward. One day, I may be focused on optimising systems, while the next day, I could be building initiatives to enhance performance.
2. What is your favourite part of your job?
I enjoy being involved in various initiatives. I thrive on variety, as shown by my previous roles. However, what I love most is working with people.
3. What does a typical day look like for you?
My day typically begins early as I prepare my two wonderful kids for school and accompany them to start their day.
On days when I don’t have drop-off, I aim to squeeze in a quick gym session – when ive not broken my foot which I did recently!
If I’m working from home, I usually log in by 9 a.m., catch up on my tasks, and then dive into a series of meetings and collab sessions. These could range from team calls and brand strategy discussions to engaging with partners on prospect outreach and preparing for upcoming activities or events. Later, I pick up the kids from school, spend quality family time, and in the evening, I either head to the gym, engage in some study, or chill with Netflix.
4. Which company value resonates with you the most?
“Thrive in work.” It’s crucial for me, as well as for others within the business, to flourish in their roles. I’ve been in positions where I couldn’t thrive, and personally, it hindered my growth – though everything has always taught be valuable lessons. Therefore, creating an environment where everyone can thrive and grow is essential. You can discover all of our values here.
5. What would you say has been your most significant achievement or the one you are most proud of whilst working at Dufrain?
My most significant achievement has been reinvigorating our brand and developing our brand playbook. This involved more than just refreshing our look and feel; it encompassed defining our purpose, values, and everything in between. It’s an ongoing and evolving task, but establishing a strong brand presence that resonates with our business has been incredibly fulfilling. And working with a variety of partners to bring this to life has been fantastic.
6. Who inspires you the most within Dufrain?
Within Dufrain, our CEO is a constant source of inspiration for me. His tenacity and vision were among the key reasons I joined the company and stayed within tech. He possesses a wealth of knowledge and continually challenges me to grow.
Additionally, Megan Livadas is an inspiration within the business. She consistently seeks growth opportunities and pushes herself, which is particularly admirable as a femaile in the tech industry. Megan’s commitment to sharing her knowledge, evidenced by her involvement in speaking engagements, is fantastic.
Outside of work, I gain inspiration from a core group of women who I regularly connect with. From university, to first jobs, to recent connections in the past years through work, whether they’re fellow parents I’ve met along my journey or women who have overcome various obstacles, challenges, and biases, they all remind me that the path to success is not always linear and that drive can stem from a variety of experiences.
7. Which work benefit or perk is your favourite and why?
Perkbox is one of my faves. It satisfies my Percy Pig addiction.
8. What’s the best advice you can give to someone who wants to work for us?
Be true to yourself. Cultivate curiosity, push your boundaries, and maintain a growth mindset. Understand how your role contributes to the broader business objectives; this awareness will help you grasp your significance and the impact you personally can make.
9. What skill do you think everyone should learn?
Communication and storytelling skills.
10. What are some of your favourite things?
My children are my favourite. Being a mum is easy. Motherhood is not. Motherhood combined with a career is undoubtedly challenging but incredibly rewarding.
Beyond that:
- I love cherry blossoms and a rose/lychee martini
- I have a passion for learning, particularly when it aligns with what im interested in
- Body combat is a favourite gym class
- Being around my friends – connecting is important for me
- Travelling – its been on pause for a while but soon I hope to get travelling again!
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