Recent projects
The below are just a few recently completed projects. For more information on past work, please get in touch, or see my LinkedIn.
Business Consultancy
I work with companies to establish what’s working, and crucially, what’s not working within their business. I recently finished a project with Founders Makers. This was a slightly different way of working - setting the team homework that I would review and assess, to keep time tight.
The brief
Identify areas for improvement across Founders Makers’ ways of working with the ambition to rip things up and start again if necessary.
My approach
I worked with the two founders of Founders Makers to identify six key areas of focus: Internal Processes / Ways of Working (inc Resource), Briefing Teams, Kicking-off Projects, Tracking Budgets, Timings, Pitches.
I worked with three key members of the company across strategy, new business, and client services, as well as a long-standing client, to answer questions around each of the focus areas. I analysed documents, reviewed ways-of-working, and worked with the team to create a picture of what was currently happening.
I then used this to create an Observations and Themes summary, including recommendations for implementation. The founders and I workshopped my findings to prioritise and plan how best to implement the suggested changes.
I finally helped hire and train the recommended new talent.
Did it work?
“Absolutely loved working with Frances - she immediately understood what our ambitions were as an agency on a scaling journey, and using her years of experience and depth of knowledge, provided easy, actionable, insights and recommendations that we were able to put into practice straight away.
We're already feeling the benefits as an agency - can't recommend her enough.
Just wish we'd done it sooner on our journey!!”
Faraz Aghaei, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Founders Makers
Programme delivery
I was brought in to Omnicom as the right hand person of the PHD Global President and Omnicom Global Client Lead for Diageo.
The Challenge
To provide senior programme guidance and support running a global transformation project for Diageo.
My approach
This transformation project was the first of its kind for Diageo, and for Omnicom. I worked closely with the client lead on the project, navigating project changes as the programme of work shifted from 11 work streams, to 9, to 13 as the clients themselves negotiated the requirements to deliver this ambitious project.
I worked with each of the different agencies within the Omnicom group who were involved in the project, ensuring they were brought in at the right times and understood their remit. I worked particularly closely with the strategy teams to ensure everything we were delivering was compliant, budgeted, and achievable.
The project was a global one, requiring implementation work in all of Diageo’s markets, increasing the complexity, and number of companies involved in the programme.
As the programme’s remit shifted, I often pivoted to support with the creation of budgets and new business proposals.
Did it work?
My contract with Omnicom was always intended as a bridge between new senior hires joining the team to deliver the ongoing programme. Despite this, my contract was extended from six to eight months.
“It was so lovely to work with you. You are super smart, you are calm and focussed, your mind is open to learning new things and wraps itself around them! We will miss you.”
Deborah Schepers, Group Global Strategy Director at PHD Media
Project Management
I am often hired to run sprawling projects that require careful handling to get back on track.
The Challenge
Bring project management rigour and guidance to the team at Merkle, Dentsu, on a global transformation project that was new for everyone in the agency.
My approach
I worked with the existing project and client management teams to understand the scope of the project. It was one of the biggest the agency had ever tackled, and a new way of working for all working on it.
I worked with the department leads across strategy, creative, delivery and client services to ensure the briefs were clear, that all team members understood what was expected of them and when, and that we were not just meeting, but exceeding the client’s expectations; booking resource, reviewing timings, creating budgets.
This was a sprawling project with new briefs coming in on a daily basis, existing briefs changing or being cancelled, and teams needing to show resilience in challenging circumstances.
I was present in all client presentations ensuring feedback was understood, actionable and within scope; guiding where needed along the way.
Did it work?
“Frances came into what was quite frankly a mess of a pretty huge project. She sorted it all out and managed every moving part to make everybody's life so much easier. Can't recommend her enough.”
Gary O’Donnell, Operations Director, Merkle B2B EMEA
