Tanisha (Tinny) Reeves

Ogilvy

Give us a brief description of your background

Professionally:

I have been working for as long as I can remember. My first job was as a pot wash at the age of 13, and have been employed in some way/form ever since.

My professional career started at 18, although I loved academia, there was no expertise I felt passionate enough about to commit to and could see more value in gaining professional experience. After a stint working as a 999 Call Handler for South Central Ambulance Service, I moved to an L&D agency in the Pharma industry and then on to Ogilvy where I have spent the last 4 years.

At Ogilvy I work as part of the B2B (Business to Business advertising) craft. I enjoy learning about transformative technology, complex problem solving and how to turn a sales process that is deemed by many as a rational affair, into a compelling story driven by emotion.

Personally:

Outside of the (now) digital confinements of work, I thoroughly enjoy the country side, and take every opportunity to explore, whether that be the rolling Surrey hills, the local river ways, walking, cycling, wild swimming and paddleboarding.

I also like to flex my artistic side by practicing creative makeup, painting miniature war-game figures and miscellaneous crafting.

Instagram: @tinnyreeves

Who/what inspires you?

Personally, I am motivated by challenge and growth, I find it hard to turn the wheel and have to keep constantly learning and developing.

I see inspiration in passionate people, people who challenge, people who are not afraid to think differently even in the face of adversity.

I see it in science, technology and nature.

I see inspiration in the strength of single parents, in the experience of the elderly and in children’s willingness to learn.

I see it in societies that look beyond what one person can do to what communities can achieve.

Inspiration to do better and be better is everywhere, you just have to be open to see it.

What does the word leadership make you think of?

Leadership is complicated, that is why still to this day we have yet to agree on a definition for it. It means different things to different people.

I don’t believe leadership is innate, gifted to a select few. I don’t believe is it a linear process that if followed correctly, anyone can achieve. I believe leadership is a skill and like all skills you have to practice, to get better and make mistakes to learn.

How do you feel about taking part in the Future Leaders programme?

Keen to broaden my perception and meet like-minded talented people.

Excited to see what a group of tenacious sustainability-focused ‘youngsters’ can do to help the world.

What do you think are the keys to a sustainable future?

Behaviour change, corporate legislation, consumer accountability and approaching the problem in a way we haven’t done before. Don’t ask me exactly what this is – we have still yet to figure it out.