Tom Schofield

Why the coffee icon?

I wish I could say I was a one-time-world-champion barista, or had scoured the forests of the southwestern highlands of Ethiopia for the finest hand-picked Arabica beans for the office, but in reality I just really like a good flat white.

A bit more about Tom

What do you enjoy most about your role?

I love that every day is genuinely different. Operations is so wide ranging I’m lucky to have never experienced a single second of boredom - there’s always something to get on with and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What challenges do you enjoy solving?

Usually the ones that start with a panicked look and a blank page. I tend to find myself gently (or not so gently) applying structure to the 'creative spontaneity' of our team and clients.

Which project at Engage are you proudest of, and why?

Personally I’m most proud of the work we’ve done for Jet2, having played a part of every campaign we’ve run for them for 10+ years now. The team are brilliant - they trust us to try new ideas and continually improve. Nothing beats a Jet2 holiday.

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned in your career?

To hire people who are better than you. If your ego is bigger than your ambition you’ll always be the bottleneck. One day your team won’t need you, and that’s when you’ve done it right.