As part of our Leadership Lessons series celebrating International Women’s Day, our Head of Interim, Ben Mitchell, recently sat down with Nicole Yost, Director of Communications & Corporate Affairs at The British Heart Foundation, one of the largest and most recognisable charities in the UK.

Read about her career, her global experience and what inspired it all below.

Looking back on your career, what do you consider your greatest achievement so far - and why does it stand out to you?

My first MD role (at Porter Novelli) definitely holds a special place for me. I was young then and learned a lot from being part of a big agency network (Omnicom). The hands-on experience I gained in that formative period of my career has helped me significantly in future roles and professional endeavours.

What has been the biggest inspiration in your career and how has this shaped your professional journey?

I’ve always been drawn to work that has both strong creative and purpose at the core. Work that genuinely stands out, has meaning and tangible outcomes for both people and society alike. My current role with British Heart Foundation exemplifies this. 

This personal interest has led me to work with some of the world’s best known healthcare brands and medicines; to inspiring events like One Young World; supporting charities as a trustee and ambassador; and delivering high-profile corporate communications initiatives. I’ve been lucky enough to collaborate on some incredible campaigns and picked up a few gongs along the way, which is always an added bonus!

If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be - and why?

Slow down! Also, remember to embrace the power of the pivot!  Careers are not always linear journeys as the brilliant ‘Squiggly Careers’ authors Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis explain so well.

What advice would you give to young women aspiring to lead in the communications industry? What more can be done to support and elevate women into leadership roles in our field? 

Enjoy it! If you’re not having fun, something’s not right. Get a good coach or a mentor to support you in your goals and ambitions. As a trained executive coach myself (and having also been on the receiving end as a coachee), I have seen first-hand the power and value of good coaching. We also need more mentors and champions for young people and future leaders - especially those from different backgrounds.

There are some great initiatives already in existence, such as the PR Week/Women in PR mentoring scheme which I currently support, but there is still scope for plenty more.