My Biggest Lesson: Jim Seal-Driver
Jim Seal-Driver joined creative experience agency, XYZ – a 160 over 90 company, last June having previously led teams and delivered high profile projects including Pride in London, House of Instagram and British House at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
At XYZ, Jim has been an integral part of the team working on projects including the behemoth Moncler Genius, while his work for Nike took him all the way to Portland and Budapest for the World Athletics Championship.
I discovered my passion for events early on, always taking the lead in organising holidays and gatherings with friends. Around the age of 18, I took the initiative to promote club nights in Cambridge, which was an exciting start. After university, I went to the Red Bull Revolutions in Sound event at the London Eye, featuring a different DJ in each of the booths. I reached out to the agency responsible for it, and that's how I landed my role at Innovision.
I gained valuable experience there, starting as an Intern and rising up to the position of Producer, working on events such as Pride in London and the Rio Olympics, until the pandemic hit and brought all events to a halt. It was a challenging period for the industry, and after almost 6 years with Innovision, I joined Identity. I worked there as a Producer for G7 and COP26, navigating the new challenges posed by the pandemic, following which I joined First, working for YouTube's Partner Experiences team.
Mentor moment
I decided to explore mentoring when I reached a crossroad in my career. I felt the need to seek advice from someone outside my immediate circle of co-workers, friends, and family to plan my next steps.
I was fortunate to be paired with a brilliant mentor, and our sessions were incredibly beneficial. I often describe them as my 'business and career therapist.' They encouraged me to identify and leverage my strongest skills more effectively and challenged me to draft my dream job description within the events industry, and work towards creating it.
The most impactful advice they gave me was that you can proactively shape your role within a business. If you can build a strong business case justifying the need for your desired role, even if it doesn't currently exist, your effort will be acknowledged. The act of drafting such a case can help you better understand your strengths and define your aspirations, regardless of the response.
This advice has stayed with me ever since. It changed my perspective on my career, making me more proactive and creative in seeking opportunities. It led me to XYZ, where I currently hold my dream job as a senior producer, working with an incredibly talented team and delivering exceptional events. My first event at XYZ, Moncler's Extraordinary Expedition, was a massive success and landed three Campaign Experience Awards.
Paying it forward
I believe in paying it forward. I've shared this advice with others who are at pivotal moments in their careers, and it's been met with enthusiasm. People often find it liberating to realise that they can actively shape their roles and make a real impact within their organisations. It's a concept that empowers individuals to take charge of their careers and seek out the opportunities they truly desire.
This year I've had the privilege of being a mentor and an Elevate ambassador, which has been a rewarding experience. One Elevate session that stood out to me was led by Evie Manuel on reframing Imposter Syndrome, a topic that resonates with many in our industry. I highly recommend joining the Elevate program to anyone who is just starting in events. It's a fantastic platform for learning and a great opportunity to connect with others in the industry, expanding your network and gaining insights from experienced professionals.
