This month, we hear from firstlight’s founder, CEO and esteemed leader – Paul Davies, AKA PD.
Tell us about your career so far
After university I worked as a postman in the Shrewsbury sorting office. As well as building my legendary knowledge of postcodes (I’m looking at you BIQQ 1ZZ), it got me enough money to travel and think about what I wanted to do.
And that thing was advertising.
But, thanks to a chance meeting between an ex-girlfriend and a still friend I managed to get an intern role at Edelman where I realised that persuasion is much more interesting than buying 96 sheet poster sites. Fast forward through a few roles in other agencies and here I am.
I founded firstlight in 2009 because I thought the typical agency model doesn’t make sense for the people who work in them or the clients they serve. Sure, they make loads of cash for the shareholders, but constantly chasing revenue and handling client and talent churn instead of focusing on doing the right thing didn’t seem like a sustainable strategy and didn’t hold any appeal.
What do you love most about firstlight?
The thing that makes me most proud about firstlight is, of course, the team and if you’ve met them you’ll now be nodding in quiet agreement. We’ve brought together some of the smartest, most committed people in the industry and I love spending time with them. If only they liked 80s music we’d really get along.
A very close second is our clients, many of whom have chosen us over networked agencies and who have been with us for years. It proves that “giving a shit since 2009” (our unofficial slogan) is a great business strategy.
What does your role involve?
I don’t really have a typical day because I now work for the agency and the team rather than the other way around. I love “doing the work” so I help wherever I can with client programmes, supporting people as they take on new challenges as well as ensuring we continue to grow in the right way. I have a very diverse role which I really enjoy.
Where can we find you outside of work?
Outside of work you’ll find me flying my gyrocopter if the weather is good enough – or thinking about flying if it isn’t – which is more often than not sadly. Aside from that I am a massive geek and am often taking things apart and (sometimes) putting them back together again.
What are you currently listening to / reading?
Currently listening to Prioritise Pleasure by Self Esteem and blushing while reading the lyrics.
Reading Riverman: an American Odyssey by Ben McGrath and wishing I had the arms for canoeing.
And what are your ambitions for the year ahead?
My personal ambition is to be able to play the opening bars of Take on Me by a-ha on a pub piano by the time we head to our company Christmas fandango.
Professional ambition is for firstlight to be less humble (I note the irony that writing this is the opposite of humble) and to tell our story more.
