Celebrating individual success is crucial to us at Freemavens. Nurturing home-grown talent is embedded in our culture, and there’s nothing we enjoy more than witnessing a ‘student becomes the master’ moment. We take immense pride in promoting from within and empowering our team members to reach their career aspirations, celebrating each milestone along the way.

When Lucy Thompson joined the Freemavens team ten years ago, little did she know how pivotal her role would become. Her journey is the stuff of commercial fairytales, marked by her exceptional ability to build amazing client relationships and strategic brilliance, ultimately leading to her appointment as Managing Director. Let’s delve into the inspiring story of Lucy’s remarkable rise…

From a young age, Lucy gained valuable experience working in her family business in Smithfield Market from the age of 16, where she developed essential people skills crucial to her future success. She studied Art History and Elements of Visual culture at the University of Leeds, honing her marketing and logistics abilities, most notably demonstrated in her dissertation on the appropriation of art in advertising. After university, Lucy volunteered in the Bahamas, assisting with conservation projects and helping manage a small island, where she realised her talent for logistics and organisation.

Once back in the UK, Lucy started her career at a large advertising agency, quickly rising through the ranks. Within just four years, she was promoted to account Director, managing the relationship of some of the agencies largest accounts. However, she felt like she was a small cog in a big machine, unable to “roll up her sleeves and get involved”. Looking for a more challenging role where she could leave her mark ultimately led to the beginning of her journey with Freemavens.

When Lucy first joined Freemavens, she found adapting from a large agency to a smaller, more agile environment a welcomed challenge. The cultural shift required her to find the right balance of process—moving from the rigid structures of a big agency to building effective processes within a smaller team. She had to adjust to a setting where everyone needed to wear multiple hats and contribute across various roles. Navigating the mix of management styles in this new environment was another hurdle, but Lucy used these experiences as fuel for her ambition. She emphasized the importance of resilience, knowing that overcoming challenges in this role and in life, in general, was crucial.

Despite her initial reservations about joining a start-up, Lucy dived in headfirst and discovered that the dynamic culture was one of the main aspects she loved about Freemavens. This energetic and collaborative spirit continues to thrive within the business today, fostering a high energy environment where everyone is eager to help and willing to learn. Lucy encapsulates this ethos with a quote she resonates: “if you can come in and have the aspiration to make the person next to you 1% better every day then that is the biggest success.” She believes that every member of the Freemavens team emulates this quality.

It was no surprise to us that Lucy thrived immediately and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming instrumental in building relationships with Freemavens’ biggest clients and implanting structures and processes that would enable sustainable growth. Her natural talent for developing client relationships, whilst building the operational rigour and directive vision resulted in her being appointed Managing Director in 2018, a role in which she has continued to flourish ever since.

Lucy attributes her success to many clients and colleagues at every level she has worked with over the years, notably Andrzej Moyseowicz, the founder of Freemavens, who has been a constant spiring buddy and inspirational challenger—a sentiment shared by many at Freemavens. Reflecting on Lucy’s journey, Andrzej states, “I am both personally and professionally indebted to Lucy. Her humility and compassion came into Freemavens’ journey at one of our lowest moments, especially for me. She helped us see how my shortcomings as a leader were hindering our growth. Lucy was the wisest partner, guiding us to become better. I remember the exact moment I knew she should be my boss, even when she doubted herself. She. Was. Ready.”

Both founders of Freemavens along with other Executive members of MSQ, and past and present client leaders have provided Lucy with invaluable advice, fostering greater self-awareness and enhancing her ability to consider diverse perspectives on future projects. She also credits her father, who introduced her to the business world at a young age. Working alongside him, she developed crucial skills such as resilience and the ability to navigate challenging times whilst demonstrating empathy and providing direction to those around her.

Reflecting on her contributions to Freemavens, she is most proud of expanding our impressive global client roster. A significant achievement was being part of the team that signed our first Global FMCG client and developing that relationship into a strong partnership. Under her leadership in the Client Services team, our global reach has increased tenfold. She has also significantly influenced Freemavens’ culture and people, striving to create a positive impact within the business. Looking ahead, she plans to continue enhancing Freemavens’ offerings, culture, and team.

When asked what advice she’d give to those starting out in their career, Lucy advised, “Keep your options open and embrace every opportunity, because you never know what the future holds.” This mindset has been crucial in her career. By staying open to new possibilities, she has continuously grown and strengthened her position as a vital part of Freemavens’ success as well as developing crucial skills that have defined her growth with us

Taking stock of Lucy’s journey, we are incredibly proud of her rise through Freemavens, from a promising talent to a respected leader. Her achievements exemplify the transformation from student to master, and we look forward to even more success in the future.

Begin your own professional journey with Freemavens by exploring our current job openings and connecting with our recruitment team