
Hannah Montgomery, editor at 44, reintroduces herself and gives us her tips and tricks on taking teamwork from the netball court to the office.
Hi Hannah … tell us a bit about yourself, how long you’ve been with 44, and what you do with the agency.
I started out at 44 in October 2018 and in that time, have progressed from editorial assistant to editor. Much of my work revolves around publications – project managing newspapers and magazines – which is perfect for me, as print is my passion. I studied media and communication at university, so this role allows me to use my strengths and skills in journalism through copywriting, interviewing, proofreading and overseeing the creative process from start to finish.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned since you joined 44?
To always have a plan B up your sleeve! In the fast-paced world of internal comms, you need to think on your feet and be prepared to come up with fresh ideas. And, perhaps more importantly, know that it’s OK to make mistakes. If something goes wrong, you can learn from it by unpicking the issue and working on a solution to prevent recurrences. You just have to be honest with yourself and others – only then can you continue to grow.
What would you say is your main strength in the workplace?
Definitely organisation – I’m a fan of the good old to-do list (even if it ends up a scribbled mess at the end of the day!). Working across various projects is a bit of a balancing act, so it’s important to stay on top of what needs to be done by prioritising tasks and having good time management. I recently juggled the production of three publications in quick succession, and I’m proud to have been able to rise to that challenge.
And what are the best projects you’ve worked on with 44 so far?
I’ve really enjoyed developing an entirely new publication for Siemens Mobility. Working with their internal comms team to create a newspaper from scratch has been a collaborative effort involving a lot of careful consideration (and a hearty dose of creativity). It’s been really interesting seeing it come together, from exploring different design treatments to populating story lists and deciding regular features. I also love a good pun, so I’m especially pleased that my suggested title for the paper was agreed on for the finished product: ‘On Track’!
You’re a regular netball player – which of your sporty skills do you bring to work with you?
Netball is a team sport – seven players on a team, each with an individual position, who need to work together as a unit to net as many goals as possible and defend against the opposition. It’s the same as operations at 44: we may have our own roles and responsibilities, but it’s important we support each other to work with greater effect. There’s a lot of strategy involved too, which is helpful in the world of comms as it drives innovation and creativity. And finally, I’d mention resilience. If a player is unavailable for a match, or if someone gets injured mid-game, we need to react with timeliness and tact. I like to think I bring this flexible and dynamic approach to the workplace.
Do you have any big goals or ambitions for the next 12 months – professionally or personally?
I would definitely like to travel more. There’s so much to see and experience in the world so I’m keen to get out and about and tick off some more items on my bucket list. One of which is a cruise, which I’m looking forward to going on soon with my family to celebrate my mum’s milestone birthday.
And finally, tell us something about yourself that people might find surprising..
I used to do a bit of modelling in my heyday. From the heights of glamour posing with burgers for a 241 newspaper advert with my twin sister, to embracing the 60s for a vintage-themed photoshoot (Twiggy eyelashes included) and hitting the runway in burlesque fashion for a Harvey Nichols event, I’ve been snapped featuring some seriously versatile looks!
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