Cappuccinos & Career Cock Ups: Hannah Mirza, Founder + CEO At The Responsible Marketing Agency

13 Feb, 2024

Hannah Mirza talks to us about finding the right job, and how the bright lights of big brands don’t always deliver what you desire.

1.       In your career, what’s the worst advice you’ve ever been given, and why?

The worst advice I’ve been given is to take a job because of the company’s profile, rather than because it’s the right job for you. A job is as much about who you report into, the team you will work with, and what will truly be expected of you, as it is about a job title and a brand. I see so many people wanting to go to big-name businesses for the stature they bring, but they can actually be a poor fit for who they are, and what they will end up having to work on. 

2.       What’s your biggest ‘Cappuccino Career Cock-up’?

I took a role at a company that, externally, seemed an innovative, dynamic and desirable place to work.  It was a brand with an incredible stature amongst consumers and I had projected that the experience would be the same for employees.  I couldn’t have been more wrong. The culture was extremely corporate, and ingenuity, or even an opinion, was frowned upon. Toxic behaviours were tolerated, and misogyny came top-down.  Everything that had made me successful in previous roles was the opposite of what they wanted from me, and I started to doubt myself as a result. It was a relief to escape it, and it took a long time to rebuild my confidence following the experience.

 What were your lessons from that? 

I learned to not be blinded by the brand. I also learned that if you are starting to feel like you don’t belong, you really don’t! And it’s not you, it’s them. I know now what being at a low career point means for my mental health and how to avoid that before it happens.  I now put my physical and mental wellness at a higher priority in terms of what it means to work successfully.

4.       What is the importance of making mistakes when paving your career path?

Making mistakes and knowing I can rise back from them has given me the fortitude to start my own business. I know that if it doesn’t work out, it won’t be the end of the world, as I have reinvented myself before and I can do it again. This mindset has allowed me to separate myself as a person from myself in my work, and in a healthier way. It also gives me the confidence to think bigger for my business, taking a long-term approach to our strategy and manifesting our success. 

5.       Summary: as a leader, what advice would you ABSOLUTELY NOT give anyone now?

To absolutely not stick with a job that’s not working for you. Life is too short, and you are too important to waste time with the wrong people or the wrong company. I am confident there is a place for everyone to have a successful career and if you’re in a place that is not serving you, don’t hesitate to look for what’s next.