KBC PR and Marketing has been a long-term member of MDHUB, spanning multiple generations of leadership. When Lisa Cooper joined the company in 2021, the world was in the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Lisa was looking for guidance and support in unpredictable times. For a travel marketing and PR agency, the pandemic proved particularly challenging for KBC, and she wanted to ensure her team was well looked after.
Support from the MDHUB members was crucial during this tricky period. Lisa explains, “Having never run a company before, being able to speak with other small company leaders gave me guidance on aspects of running a business that hadn’t been on my radar. Listening to peers discuss their own issues was really enlightening and educational.”
In the pandemic, this was especially vital, as her workgroups represented unity, community and reassurance in a time that was otherwise extremely isolating. Lisa’s two regular groups offered a broad range of advice, thanks to the variety of businesses and industries represented. This offered a different perspective on how to view and tackle challenges that might not have otherwise occurred to her team.
One of those challenges was establishing her own leadership style. For Lisa, running a team is probably the hardest part of the job. “It’s essential to listen to each employee and hear what they need from you, as well as communicating what you need from them,” she adds.
A cornerstone of Lisa’s management is instilling a coaching culture to help each individual grow into the best version of themselves. Part of this process includes letting members of her team take on greater responsibility. Having faith in individuals to give their best effort is part of her team’s development, too.
Delegation has been its own challenge, forcing Lisa to let go of the idea that it’s always quicker to do it yourself. It’s essential to be able to trust your employees to learn from you and put their skills to good use, freeing up time for leaders to focus on the bigger picture projects in the business.
Another key facet of Lisa’s leadership style is ensuring enough time is set aside for decompression and fun in the workplace. As a hybrid organisation that frequently travels, getting everyone together for team builds and other leisure time is especially important, as seen in the fiercely competitive “KBC Bake Off” at London Bakes.
To ensure she is her best self at work, Lisa sets an example by booking enough downtime for herself. She explains, “I've had to learn how to say no to things, which goes against the grain. But as I get older, I realise that my battery life isn't what it used to be, so it's necessary.”
Lisa blocks out free weekends to spend at home with her husband, with no chores or other commitments, so they can decompress and recharge together. “It’s okay to do nothing occasionally; it’s actually really quite rejuvenating!”
In 2024, Lisa was awarded the MDHUB Lioness Award for her exceptional team leadership. “It actually meant a lot. It came to me when I was personally on rocky ground, so having someone from outside the business acknowledge what I’ve been doing with the team was enormous. It shifted my perspective on my own leadership and absolutely re-energised me.”
What’s next for KBC? Lisa explained that they’re putting a lot of time and energy into developing their team, and adopting new technologies. We’re very excited to see how Lisa and KBC continue to flourish.
Find out more at www.kbc-pr.com
www.mdhub.com
