Features / If I Knew Then
If I Knew Then: Zoe Taylor
Having held senior management roles in finance and IT organisations, Zoe Taylor joined the Bristol-based company Sparkol, makers of leading whiteboard animation software VideoScribe, in 2014. She was made CEO in 2016 and became the owner of the business earlier this year.
How did you start your career?
After A-levels I opted for a gap year, which extended to three, backpacking around the world.
I loved that time, but never felt stretched or challenged, so I returned to Europe and started university in France. Shortly after graduation, I was offered a role organising exhibitions. I loved the variety of sales, marketing and operations and it appealed to my vision of a world without boundaries as the events were in Russia, central Asia and the Middle East.
If you knew then what you know now, what mistakes might you have avoided?
Those first few years of work with varied experiences and numerous mistakes made me who I am today. I quickly learnt what I didn’t want to do – which in many ways, particularly at that stage of my career – was as important as having a clear-focused ambition.
What advice would you have given yourself when starting out?
The first is that most people are lovely, and are happy to help, you just need to ask.
The second is to pick your battles, you can’t fight them all, let the small things go and focus on the important stuff.
If you knew then what you know now, would you still be sitting there?
Most definitely.
What do you know now that you didn’t know then?
When I started out I didn’t appreciate just how much business doesn’t like surprises. There is a tendency to think that when things start going off track you will be able to pull a miracle out of the bag. My time as a project manager really brought this home to me. Flagging risks or concerns as early as possible enables early intervention and manages expectations.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received so far?
Always try to hire people who are better than you.
What is your career highlight?
Definitely acquiring Sparkol earlier this year. It’s been a really exciting time for me and the company. I’ve watched the company grow with new product launches and websites and I felt it was the right time to take the next step and lead the company into a new era.
What is your career low point?
The hardest time for me was when I was in a challenging role in London with two young children at home in Bristol. My husband did an amazing job filling in the gaps, but it was a really tough time and any professional success was overshadowed by my poor work-life balance.
What keeps you awake?
I find it really hard to switch off and regularly find myself wide awake in the middle of the night, processing all the things I need to remember for the following day.
I keep my phone by my bed so I email myself in the early hours. Sadly my eyesight isn’t what it was so there are times when de-coding the gobbledegook the following morning can be quite a challenge!
What’s changed from when you started out?
The pace of technological change and the speed at which our workforce is required to adapt to it.
I’m a governor at the City of Bristol College and our focus is on the development of transferable skills for individuals, which give them the confidence to adapt to the ever-changing employment landscape.
What’s still on your to-do list?
Professionally, I would like to see Sparkol offices across the globe to ensure we can easily service our diverse client base.
Personally, I would love to build a home from scratch, not quite Grand Designs, but something simple and airy with an amazing view.
What’s next for you in business and personally?
I’m really passionate about helping people quickly and easily bring their storytelling to life, on an equal footing, irrespective of their budget.
For Sparkol, as well as maintaining our success, I’ll be focusing on finding new partners and collaborators for our next phase of growth.
My daughter moves up to secondary school this September and my son will follow 12 months later so at home it will be a time for family stability, support and as much routine as we can muster.
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