<div class="gn-article"><div class="gn-hero gn-reveal"> <div class="gn-hero__image"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/687a235da6861294eec73166/69fa71025e74b2911dc1ca52_kelly-broomhead-whats-the-one-thing-banner-69036dd891d72666209430.jpeg" alt=""></div> <div class="gn-hero__head"> <span class="gn-kicker"><span class="dot"></span>Expression</span> <h1 class="gn-title">What&#39;s the One Thing? ... with Kelly Broomhead - Senior Client Director</h1> <div class="gn-meta"> <strong>The GO Network</strong> <span class="pip"></span> <span>28 October 2025</span> <span class="pip"></span> <span>5 min read</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="gn-body"> <figure class="gn-fig gn-reveal"> <div class="gn-fig__media"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/687a235da6861294eec73166/69fcb000ae45794d2dc88fa4_69fcaff811ca0fdff018b850_picture65-69024e4b671b0542485491.jpeg" alt="Kelly Broomhead, Senior Client Director at Born Ugly"></div> <figcaption>Kelly Broomhead · Senior Client Director · Born Ugly</figcaption> </figure> <p class="gn-lede gn-reveal"><strong><em>Kelly Broomhead </em></strong><em>is a senior client director with nearly two decades of experience partnering with brands to shape and activate strategic propositions across global markets.</em></p> <p class="gn-reveal"><em>Her career began at Elmwood, where over 14 years she progressed through client leadership roles, working with start-ups, scale-ups, and established brands alike. Now at Born Ugly, she continues to support brands across D2C, B2C, and B2B sectors, translating global insights into propositions that resonate across cultural mindsets and international audiences.</em></p> <p class="gn-reveal"><em>With deep expertise in both the retail and consumer health industries, Kelly has worked on brand challenges in regions across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East, blending commercial strategy with creative collaboration to drive transformation for clients worldwide.</em></p> <p class="gn-reveal"><em>Whether she's building strategic partnerships, leading high-performing teams, or solving complex positioning challenges, Kelly brings clarity, curiosity, and a global perspective to every brief.</em></p> <div class="gn-divider gn-reveal" aria-hidden="true"></div> <h2 class="gn-reveal">What's the one mistake you look back on with a smile, and why?</h2> <p class="gn-reveal">It was 2008 and we were rolling out 1,200 SKUs of the Walmart's Great Value redesign. I say 'we'… there were two of us within the Client Services team. I was determined to prove myself, convinced that handling everything solo was the path up the ladder (which to be fair, it was!). So I juggled feedback, timelines, and the status of 1,200 SKUs with great skill, and I learnt a hell of a lot in those fast-paced retail days.</p> <p class="gn-reveal">Until I hit my limit, and had that moment where you want to crawl and hide under your desk (which I'm sure I've also done at some point).</p> <aside class="gn-quote gn-reveal"><q>Trying to manage everything, all at once, is not always good for us, the project, or our clients, and I should have asked for support from my colleagues sooner.</q><cite>Kelly Broomhead · Senior Client Director, Born Ugly</cite></aside> <p class="gn-reveal">I've since learnt there is always someone willing to help, and it's never seen as a weakness… you just have to ask.</p> <figure class="gn-fig gn-reveal"> <div class="gn-fig__media"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/687a235da6861294eec73166/69fcb000ae45794d2dc88fac_69fcaff96389541cef2659d0_07-10-24-walmart-logo-evolution-2025-update-600x392-69024e4b5dd56914481241.jpeg" alt="Walmart Great Value brand redesign"></div> <figcaption>The Walmart Great Value redesign: a 1,200 SKU rollout that shaped Kelly's early career.</figcaption> </figure> <div class="gn-divider gn-reveal" aria-hidden="true"></div> <h2 class="gn-reveal">What's the one mindset shift that helped you get better at what you do?</h2> <p class="gn-reveal">Having children completely changed my mindset at work. It didn't limit my career or opportunities in any way, but it broadened my perspective. It made me a calmer person, gave me more empathy, opened my eyes to new brands, and gave me more awareness of a different consumer mindset.</p> <p class="gn-reveal">It also gave me the confidence to make work, work around me and my family, by that I mean working at the times of day where I'm more productive.</p> <p class="gn-reveal">The way the industry and employer behaviour has shifted post-Covid has obviously helped make that possible, but I'm very lucky to work in a creative agency that supports parents. I'm aware that this is not necessarily the case across the agency landscape.</p> <figure class="gn-fig gn-reveal"> <div class="gn-fig__media"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/687a235da6861294eec73166/69fcb000ae45794d2dc88fa8_69fcaff9f82008235ce65fab_istockphoto-1388147280-612x612-69024e4b5f5a9592066389.jpeg" alt="Balancing parenthood and career in a creative agency"></div> <figcaption>A shift in perspective: how parenthood broadened Kelly's outlook on work and clients.</figcaption> </figure> <div class="gn-divider gn-reveal" aria-hidden="true"></div> <h2 class="gn-reveal">What's the one thing outside of work that's influenced your career most, and why?</h2> <p class="gn-reveal">My dad. I never quite realised this growing up, but he's a marketeer. He started with a blank sheet of paper and created his own company, working for himself for most of my childhood and early adult life; getting to travel, advise, and consult within the healthcare industry.</p> <p class="gn-reveal">He's also written two books, launched and edited his own industry magazine, and is a fantastic copywriter. I didn't quite see the connection as I joined the creative industries, I loved design and, despite being in Client Services, I have a degree in Graphic Design. But the more I move through my career, the closer I seem to be moving into his world.</p> <p class="gn-reveal">Our work ethic mirrors each other. We both love collaboration but crave space to think. We're productive at the same hours. We solve problems the same way. And it turns out, I love writing too. Maybe I should take a stab at my own book...</p> <figure class="gn-fig gn-reveal"> <div class="gn-fig__media"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/687a235da6861294eec73166/69fcb000ae45794d2dc88fbd_69fcaffa27c2321f3d4a96a1_blank-sheet-of-paper-and-pen-on-a-wooden-table-free-photo-69024e4b7c0a6725271533.jpeg" alt="Blank sheet of paper and pen on a wooden table"></div> <figcaption>Starting with a blank sheet of paper: a philosophy shared by Kelly and her father.</figcaption> </figure> <div class="gn-divider gn-reveal" aria-hidden="true"></div> <h2 class="gn-reveal">What's the one skill or mindset the next generation will need that we're not teaching enough?</h2> <p class="gn-reveal">So many things! I worry that the future generation won't have the capacity or patience to think for themselves, or take the time to think.</p> <p class="gn-reveal">Attention spans are shorter, they're becoming bored easily, and they don't always know how to entertain themselves. They're consumed by digital content but flit between different devices and platforms.</p> <p class="gn-reveal">From a Client Services perspective, I worry they'll struggle to build real relationships. I heard a stat recently that children are no longer knocking on the doors of their friends and asking them to 'play out'. Will the future generation be able to connect with people in an analogue world as they grow older, or will it all be connections through the digital world?</p> <p class="gn-reveal">And finally, I worry people will lose the skill to write. All writing will be produced by AI and people will lose the ability to craft a story (and no, I didn't use AI to draft this answer).</p> <figure class="gn-fig gn-reveal"> <div class="gn-fig__media"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/687a235da6861294eec73166/69fcb000ae45794d2dc89156_69fcaffb1f08efe9336ccc55_5057db12-4778-450f-a1f0-ee0134613481-69024e4c5fd0a970420448.png" alt="The next generation and the future of skills in the creative industries"></div> <figcaption>Kelly's concern: will the next generation retain the ability to think, connect, and write?</figcaption> </figure> <div class="gn-divider gn-reveal" aria-hidden="true"></div> <h2 class="gn-reveal">What's the one email you still think about, for better or worse, and why?</h2> <p class="gn-reveal">I worked with a particular client who I always wanted to impress. They were a tough nut to crack. Very professional, very opinionated, very talented, and very respected. But the kind of person you always felt nervous about meeting as a junior member of the agency.</p> <p class="gn-reveal">One day they asked me for something that was near impossible, but I delivered, and they emailed me a one-liner along the lines of: "Well done. Very impressive."</p> <p class="gn-reveal">Simple. To the point. I printed that email off and stuck it to my desk for weeks!</p> <p class="gn-reveal">That person wasn't being intentionally challenging, it was just a natural part of their personality. But they definitely shaped my early career and made me a better Client Service person in doing so.</p> <figure class="gn-fig gn-reveal"> <div class="gn-fig__media"><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/687a235da6861294eec73166/69fcb000ae45794d2dc88f9b_69fcaffcfda8211fa387c5be_istockphoto-1210869696-612x612-69024e4b68898127412852.jpeg" alt="A memorable email moment in a client services career"></div> <figcaption>A two-word email that stayed stuck to Kelly's desk for weeks.</figcaption> </figure> <div class="gn-divider gn-reveal" aria-hidden="true"></div> <h2 class="gn-reveal">AND FINALLY: What's the one "What's the one thing" question you would like to see us ask future guests?</h2> <p class="gn-reveal">Graduates are struggling to get into the creative industries with the rise of AI. What one piece of advice would you give anyone trying to break into this industry?</p> <div class="gn-divider gn-reveal" aria-hidden="true"></div> <p class="gn-reveal"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-primary underline decoration-primary" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-broomhead-74658622/"><strong>Connect</strong></a></p> <blockquote class="gn-blockquote gn-reveal">Thanks to Kelly for sharing her experiences, insight, and a refreshingly human perspective on what really shapes a career. From high-stakes retail rollouts to standout moments in client service, her answers are a reminder that growth often comes from the messy bits, and that curiosity, resilience, and the people around us matter just as much as the work itself. If you'd like to take part in <em>What's the One Thing?</em>, we'd love to hear from you, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="text-primary underline decoration-primary decorated-link" href="https://thegonetwork.fillout.com/whats-the-one-thing">submit your thoughts here</a>. Thanks for reading <em>What's the One Thing?</em><cite>The GO Network</cite></blockquote> </div></div>