Inspiration

Giving up your holiday time to talk to us Josie simply sums up your character. You live to help others and you do so with a smile on your face and a positive attitude. Having worked with UrbanLeaf for over 7 years and volunteered at various charities for 5 years you’re now helping Zen build a better world. With a flexible approach and can-do attitude you are so multi-talented that you have that rare quality of being an excellent people person and a highly proficient administrator. You are a superstar, thank you for taking the time to speak with us.

What are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life?

A very impactful book called Factfulness by Hans Rosling. Turns out when we’re asked simple questions about the world we get the answers wrong. Our problem is that we don’t know what we don’t know, and even our guesses are informed by unconscious and predictable biases. The truth is the statistics show the world is a much better place and has improved far more than we realise, and that message of positivity is really motivating. 

What purchase of £100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months (or in recent memory)?

Recent flights to Seville with easyJet from Gatwick for a weeks’ holiday with friends. It’s really important because I’ve not had a holiday abroad since 2019. I love the sunshine, quality time with friends, adventure and meeting new people.

If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it —metaphorically speaking, getting a message out to millions or billions — what would it say and why?

Time is our greatest asset. 

Where we put our time should be a key question we ask ourselves, focusing on what really matters most and prioritising.

What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you’ve ever made? 

100% it’s time invested in relationships. Long-term relationships I value. I put the effort into maintaining them and both parties benefit. My young niece and nephew live in London so I make the effort to build a strong relationship with them by travelling down regularly.

What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?

I basically live on cheese and bread, no exaggeration. When they cut me open cheese will come out!

In the last five years, what new belief, behaviour, or habit has most improved your life?

Taking time to do nothing, ‘free thinking’ and visualising the future in a relaxed way to set goals. 

What advice would you give to a smart, driven student about to enter the “real world”? What advice should they ignore?”

For me workplace culture is much more important than your job title. That’s what we had at UrbanLeaf. Being around great people means there’s a high level of trust, open communication and team work. When I’ve worked in previous companies that don’t have that it’s far less enjoyable and far less fulfilling.

What annoys you most about your industry and the way companies are run in it?

Progression at work is often seen as a narrow linear path of hierarchy. However, you taught me that it’s better to put people’s strengths and talent to the right job. Too many industries promote people to management based on time or because they are the best performers in a role. That does not necessarily make people better managers or leaders. Remunerating and developing people within their area of talent can be more beneficial for everyone.

What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership is to help other people towards a united goal. Understand the goal, set expectations and have a clear pathway. It’s even better if people can set their own goals and standards, then leaders can help them achieve them.

What one thing could you do that you aren’t doing now, that if you did on a regular basis, would make a tremendous positive difference in your personal life? What one thing in your business or professional life would bring similar results?

I’d like to work less hours to learn more, to get involved in new projects and have free thinking time. The pandemic showed me the value of this