The Freelancer Life: Meet Victoria Page
Victoria seems very formal as everyone calls her Tause! Tause is a freelance corporate purpose and brand strategist and founder of VP Comms and a force to be reckoned with when it comes to crafting a comms strategy that delivers sustainable impact. We talk to Tause about leaving her agency days behind to work for herself and the freedom it has given her, chairing UKSSD and the opportunities it has opened up and the importance of getting out of your comfort zone to give things a good go.
“I’m more convinced than ever that it’s people that will help to make real, lasting change. There are change makers in every business...if you can empower those people with the right messages and the right tools, the rest should be easy”
Hello, hello and welcome to The To Do List! Tell us a little bit about yourself, what you do and how long you have been doing it for.
I’m Victoria, but everyone calls me Tause. I run my own consultancy - VP Comms - as well as chairing UKSSD and Love Haslemere Hate Waste. I also look after my two girls full time. It’s a serious juggle, but I’m doing everything I love and that has been so important to me. I never thought it was possible, but I tried and it works (most of the time!).
You worked within cultural change for over a decade and made a name for yourself whilst working in some well-known agencies. What was it that led you to set up on your own?
I realised that in an agency, you are constrained to work with the agency’s clients and with the agency’s staff. I felt too constricted by that model because I wanted to work with different people, which just wasn’t possible in the agency model I knew. I was absolutely petrified to go it alone - I had so much doubt. I didn’t have any clients to start with, and I launched on my own, without a business partner. But I knew in my gut I needed to try, and if it didn’t work out, at least I would have given it a go.
I also wanted to be there for my children, so working remotely has formed the cornerstone of my approach to work. As long as I have my laptop, I can work anywhere. It sounds silly, but it took me a while to get the hang of the shift out of a traditional 9-5 structure, and to work when I feel I’m at my best. Right now I’m working whilst my children sleep - it works for us all!
“I felt too constricted by that model because I wanted to work with different people, which just wasn’t possible in the agency model I knew”
CSR is a word used so often and almost every company seems to have a nod to it. How do you feel the industry has changed over the past few years and what should companies watch out for?
I started working in CSR in early 2000s when companies would give big cheques to village communities and feel good about themselves. I’m elated that we have evolved and that good businesses now not only acknowledge, but deeply care about their impact on environmental and societal ecosystems. I help those businesses do the right thing, whilst remaining viable - because sustainable business is what it’s all about. Those companies that are entirely motivated by profit alone will be quickly found out and ditched by their consumers and employees alike. It just doesn’t wash anymore. People want to see business take responsibility and make a positive impact.
What tips would you offer a brand who wants to become more sustainable? What do they need to consider?
Don’t try and do it all at once. It can be overwhelming if you’re just coming at this fresh from the starting blocks. Start small, do it well, and that will build confidence across audiences. I’m also more convinced than ever that it’s people that will help to make real, lasting change. There are change makers in every business - people that want to lead and do good. If you can empower those people with the right messages and the right tools, the rest should be easy.
“Start small, do it well, and that will build confidence across audiences”
You co-chair the PRCA Green Room and are a Fellow at the RSA. How important are these associations to your network and lead generation?
I joined RSA because I believe in their mission to find solutions to societies challenges. And I believed I could help meet their mission. This year, I launched a local charity, Love Haslemere Hate Waste to cut down on waste in my hometown and the RSA has been incredibly supportive. I also love their insights, talks, events and working space. The point is, it’s mutually beneficial. If you can find networks where you both benefit, it becomes far more powerful.
Tause speaking at the Holmes Report conference, Provoke, in Washington DC
Joining an established group or speaking on a panel when self-employed can seem quite daunting - any tips on how to overcome these fears and get yourself out there?
Just say yes! Plus, I was told if an opportunity takes you where you want to go, go for it. Otherwise, leave it for someone else.
Share your struggles - what do you find hardest about working for yourself?
The hardest thing about working for myself is the feast or famine nature of my workload. I’m trying harder to enjoy both the times when I have lots on, and relax into the times that are quieter. I’ve spoken to hundreds of people about that, and it seems it never really goes away.
Share your perks - what do you enjoy most about working for yourself?
But the best thing is working when I want, with who I want. I have an extensive network and I love having the opportunity to work with brilliant people who can teach me how to do it better. That is the most fulfilling thing for me.
What are your top tips for anyone working for themselves?
My top tips are, in the words of Nike, just do it. Just get out there, have some conversations, give it your all and try your best. And being persistent without being relentless is quite useful too.
What are your top recommendations - podcasts, books, people to follow, sources of inspiration?
I love a good business book and really enjoyed How to Be More Pirate and am currently reading Inspired Companies. I also love all that the RSA has to offer - podcasts, video animations, blogs. It’s rich, thought provoking content that’s progressive and a little bit different to the usual. I love it.
What role does collaboration play for you?
It’s essential! The stuff of dreams is to collaborate with your clients - to truly work in partnership with them to achieve your goal. Those are the most valuable relationships to me. I also rely of my associate network, so collaboration is key there too. My network spans all kinds of expertise from design to film making, business strategy to internal comms. I get huge value from my network but it only works when you’re both committed to seeing the other succeed.
What is the best project you’ve worked on since going freelance?
There’s been so many! One of the most iconic was integrating Sky Ocean Rescue’s plastic free campaign into their business strategy. It was commended by HRH Prince Charles and the Venture Fund is constantly awarding innovative businesses that are solving the plastic crisis. That was seriously fulfilling. I’ve also worked with the UN, O2 and Britvic to deliver transformational programmes that are making positive impact. That work is really fulfilling.
What were you doing this time last year? What have you learnt or how have you changed since then?
I’ve been going on my own for almost three years and life has transformed since then. I’m better now at putting my values first rather than sacrificing them. And that, in turn, has made me a better business woman. It’s not been without its struggles, but I’ve never looked back.
If you’re a business looking to find your meaning, tell your story and deliver sustainable impact get in touch with Tause at victoriapagecomms.com or connect with her on LinkedIn.
“I’m better now at putting my values first rather than sacrificing them. And that, in turn, has made me a better business woman. It’s not been without its struggles, but I’ve never looked back”