The Fishbowl: Nicky Harris, Nabs
The Fishbowl
The Media Leader’s interview series asks the media industry’s top salespeople 10 revealing questions, drawn from our fishbowl. The questions will be drawn at random and contain some tricky posers set by the commercial chiefs themselves.
This week: Nicky Harris, commercial director at Nabs.
Harris was promoted to her current role — a newly created position — at Nabs in 2022, with a remit to bring together insight, data, fundraising and marketing at the media and advertising industry charity.
Before that, she was its director of strategy, spearheading a number of initiatives including putting diversity, equity and inclusion at the heart of Nabs’ investment decisions.
Joining Nabs as a trainee advisor, Harris has held a variety of roles at the organisation, including head of support services and fundraising manager.
Prior to her career at Nabs, Harris has done stints both advertising side and agency side at companies including Arcadia, Proximity and DraftFCB.
Why are you passionate about media?
I love the funny, strategic and creative brainpower our industry is flooded with. I get to see the media industry at some of its very best and toughest moments in my role at Nabs and connect with brilliant people who share Nabs’ passion for supporting talent with their mental health and wellbeing.
What is coming up in conversations with clients?
People are working extremely hard to stay on top and this has obvious implications for the wellbeing of teams and that of their managers and leaders too. At a time when mental health support is needed most, it can be ironically deprioritised.
We’re hearing about the need for more support at a management level — the growing understanding that you have to nurture your own mental health, to protect your team, that none of us has all of the answers when it comes to culture, but that we are at our best when we come together and learn more as a community.
That’s why we launched Nabs’ Managers’ Mindsets training — to help managers across our industry support their teams’ and their own mental wellness.
What’s the best book you’ve read so far this year?
Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman — a recommended read and a real lightbulb moment for me.
I’m a self-confessed productivity geek and this book helped me see that I’ll never get the to-do list done! That I’ll probably never feel like I’ve got everything on track at work, with kids, with elderly parents, with multiple animals… but that is actually OK.
Once you understand that time is a finite resource, you can start to get comfortable, understand your limits more, stop trying to be a hero and put the big things in your life first — and the rest will find space… or not.
How have you survived running sales teams at your level?
Nabs reflects the industry, so when it’s tough economically, it gets tough fundraising at Nabs. Conversely, we see demand for our services rise as people feel more pressure.
Managing and motivating a commercial team and looking after my own wellbeing this year has been a balancing act. I’m lucky to have open and honest dialogue with all of my team members and I don’t shy away from hearing their critique on me either, which is so important for our collective success.
My go-to survival technique at the moment seems to be adding more pets to the mix!
If you could change one thing about your job, what would it be?
To collaborate even more with our supporters and stakeholders. I can sometimes get lost behind the spreadsheets.
Which actor would play you in the film of your life and why?
I can’t give you a serious answer here. So I choose Diane Morgan, aka Liz in Motherland. Northern, strong and says it how it is. I don’t freeze cheese, though, but my culinary skills aren’t way off hers!
Who’s your best friend in the industry?
Stephanie Legg, chief marketing officer at Schuh. We met years ago working at Proximity and have both done marketing stints at Arcadia.
She’s a total legend. Three kids, a blended family, a kick-ass leadership role, recently driving purposeful campaigns around disability and inclusion for the brand. She keeps it real, wears her heart on her sleeve, talks openly about mental health and is always in my corner.
Peer question: How do you develop, motivate and engage your team in a hybrid working environment?
It can be difficult to balance internal team development and motivations with the need for strong, external fundraising focus.
Regular online catch-ups and 1:1s, “in-person” quarterly get-togethers and having high levels of trust really help us all in a hybrid environment.
I don’t shy away from uncomfortable conversations and I make sure I’m honest about my mental health to help encourage others to feel safe. Of course the team also has access to Nabs’ learning and development products and support — which, if you don’t know, are excellent resources.
Question from Mark Bucknell, chief commercial officer, JCDecaux UK
Peer question: Where or what do you get your best creative inspiration from?
Walking my dog! Life and work are busy, and I’d probably be bored if they weren’t, but taking time out, walking my dog through the woods and noticing nature and wildlife gives me pause for thought. The peace and quiet gives my mind a rest and it helps me be much more creative when I am around others.
Question from Katie Bowden, director of commercial audio, Global
Peer question: What was the one biggest issue you’ve experienced in your media career and how did you overcome it?
Trying to work like I have no kids and parenting like I have no work! I’m not sure I’ve overcome it, but I’m very much working towards it and understanding my motivations more.
Question from Shaun Wilson, vice-president, UK sales, Audioboom
Read more Fishbowl interviews here and see what media’s top salespeople say about working in the industry and what concerns their clients. To suggest an interviewee, contact [email protected].