Justine Howl is the marketing communications manager for business change consultancy Entec Si.
In one sentence, what does your role involve? My role is very varied. I manage the marketing communication needs of Entec Si and also advise, develop and deliver stakeholder engagement and communication strategies for our clients. Working in a small business means you get exposed to all aspects of the business, and as a consultant I love working with different companies from a wide range of sectors to add value to their change projects and programmes.
How long have you been in your current job? Almost three years. Time flies.
Please give a summary of your professional career to date. I started my career working in operational roles for an airline and ground agent but later moved into public relations in the aviation and education sectors. I held the position of head of comms for Birmingham Airport for over a decade before joining Entec Si in 2022.
Did further/higher education set you up well for your particular vocation? I chose not to go to university and instead completed vocational courses to hone my craft and professional development. This has been the right path for me.
How is your job impacted by uncertainties in the economy? As ours is a business that helps clients implement change projects and programmes, the economy does have a bearing on the appetite, scale and speed to invest in transformation. That said, we often find that the organisations we work with understand that investing in digital will lead to longer term financial, operational, customer and people benefits.
What’s your view of artificial intelligence – an opportunity, threat, or bit of both? We specialise in IT and digital transformation so I see the benefits of AI to support efficiencies and customer service, but I also feel it’s a threat in the wrong hands.
Social media platform of choice, and why? LinkedIn is the only channel I use. I think it’s helpful in a work environment as a network and marketing tool. I stopped using Facebook many years ago and have never been interested in Instagram. I use the good old-fashioned telephone to keep in touch with people.
How do you hope your colleagues would describe you? I naturally always try to look at things through the lenses of others – which is a key attribute when delivering change communications. I’ve been told I am the voice of reason and try to be supportive and caring with people, both in and out of work settings. Being kind is a strong value of mine.
Highlights of your career so far? I have had many and I am fortunate to have loved all the jobs I’ve had. I would say it was being involved in the event management of the 1998 G8 conference in Birmingham. Seeing so many world leaders arrive in the city and being part of all the security and logistics was an incredible experience, albeit slightly terrifying.
Any particular faux pas or embarrassing moments in your career you would prefer to forget? I’m a little clumsy and once accidently threw a plate of curry over my CEO during a photocall. Fortunately, he had a good sense of humour and a dry cleaner was nearby. If you’re reading this Paul, I’m forever apologetic . . .
Pet hates? Dishonesty and rudeness.
If you could go back and give your younger self some wise advice, what would it be? I can sometimes be a little hard on myself so I would say spend less time sweating about the small stuff, focus on the things you can control and be kind to yourself. I am proud to say I wouldn’t change a thing in my career so it would have to also be: trust your gut, it will serve you well.
How do you relax away from work? I swim and practice yoga regularly. I also love going for walks with my dog but she’s getting an old girl so we often end up sitting on a bench watching the world go by. Getting away in my camper van allows me to really switch off.
Tell us something about you that most people probably wouldn’t know. I lived in Germany for two years.
You can take one book, one film and one CD onto a desert island – what would they be? A book on how to build a boat might be sensible, but probably a blank journal so I could record my daily island adventures. Film: Pulp Fiction (what a soundtrack). CD: That’s hard as I have a real eclectic taste in music but probably ABBA’s greatest hits.
Your five dream dinner party guests, dead or alive? Bob Marley, Will Ferrell, Marilyn Monroe, David Attenborough and Jamie Oliver (to do the cooking).
What would you choose to eat for your last supper? I rarely eat meat so it would probably be a salmon Thai red curry. I spent some time travelling around Asia and picked up an addiction to Thai food. Followed by an espresso martini . . . or two.
