Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe, Global Communications Leader
I am a global communications leader with over 25 years of corporate communications experience. I have experience in corporate, consumer, sustainability, and internal communications. I am seeking a leadership role in a purpose-led organisation. I am a skilled female BAME professional with global experience in UK, Middle East and Asia. My most recent role was leading communications for the London Office of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) in an interim capacity. Previously, I led the communications mandate at eBay, Nissan, Marico Industries and three of the Mahindra Group sectors (real estate, hospitality and venture capital). In both eBay India & Marico Industries, I set up the communications function as the first communications hire. I was responsible for launching the eBay India brand and building it into a reputed eCommerce thought leader. I was part of the management teams at WANO, eBay India & Nissan Group of India. Over the decade I spent at eBay India, I additionally led a variety of key business roles: Strategic Partnerships, Pop Culture and Collectibles Category Management.
I also led corporate communications and charity for eBay in the Philippines and Malaysia between 2010 and 2011. I am an advocate for empowerment, diversity and belonging. I was co-chair of the eBay Women's Initiative Group across Asia-Pacific, facilitating lean in circles with both females and male colleagues. In Saudi Arabia, I was a Board Member of the Women's Skill Bureau and also edited their popular monthly newsletter. I was co-chair of the British High Commission and New Delhi's Charity Committee. I consulted with Asha Society, New Delhi as an advocacy and communications volunteer and ran their mentorship programme.
I am completing an Executive MBA from the University of Bradford. In the final six months of the course, I am focused on working with Tech Mahindra for my MBA project. I was awarded the Leading Woman in Corporate Communications award in 2013 from II Global and also won the eBay APAC Club Excellence Award in 2012. At the British Embassy, I was awarded Hero of the Month in 2019. A wildlife and animal lover, I spent three career sabbaticals in Africa volunteering with wildlife non-profits in Kenya, Zimbabwe & Malawi. I am currently volunteering with Tree of Life for Animals UK (TOLFA) as a Trustee.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
Facebook allows me to keep in touch with friends and family around the world. LinkedIn for professional networking and content sharing.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
I am a global communications professional looking for a leadership role with a purpose-led company. I am also a Trustee on the board of animal charity Tree of Life for Animals UK. I am passionate about building brands and reputation, entrepreneurship, emerging industries, diversity and inclusion.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
I love how I can understand the entire business ecosystem for my organisation and the dynamics at play in my role as a communications leader. I enjoy working on strategic communications that are allied to company strategy and working on a strong narrative and campaigns that shape corporate reputation.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
This is a hard one as quite a few influences to choose from. I guess I would attribute my dad's belief in my ability to take on any challenge I felt like setting myself, whether it be a professional career opportunity or a personal life goal like buying my first house or even more recently turning student (while studying for an MBA).
Having strong support from my parents, my brother, and now my husband has helped me be resilient and confident in spite of a few curve balls that life throws in your path. It helps me give my best to any role I take up, and that helps me be successful.
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
Making a difference in the world (even if it is just in your local community). This could be working for a company that is purpose-led or volunteering on the board of a non-profit, or teaching college students. I have always received amazing motivation from the larger impact I can make when I am able to use my skills and experience for the greater good.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
My work with the eBay brand and evangelising eCommerce in India. Some of the brilliant relationships I built with smart, passionate colleagues and fellow communicators. The opportunities I have had to use my skills and experience to motivate young talent. The fact that almost four years after I left India, I still get offered some really good roles and occasionally invited to panels.
On a personal front, rescuing and adopting my darling furbabies Sandy and Puppichino from the streets of New Delhi when they were injured. They have become jet-set doggies who have moved seamlessly from India to the UK, to Saudi Arabia and now to the UK.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
I am pretty open to an industry conference, training, networking platform or even through a mutual friend. My best relationships grow from deep sit-down conversations or shared passions. Virtual networking makes it harder to build a deep connection; however, you can meet people unconstrained by geography considerations.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
I would say my strong business acumen, my passion, my emotional intelligence and strong communications expertise. I bring my best authentic self to all situations, and I am pretty adaptable.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
There are many measures of success, and that your career is a jungle gym, not a ladder.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
I would say, Dame Anita Roddick, the founder of BodyShop, because she was one of the first CEOs with a conscience. She demonstrated how business could be a force for positive social change. She inspired millions with her vision, her causes and dynamism. Body shop's focus on selling natural beauty products in a relaxed way which celebrated their customer's positive body image helped to set the brand apart.
Her focus on education and public relations was a strong thread of its success. Roddick is the archetype of a responsible leader. She also demonstrates elements of servant leadership, a visionary, networker, storyteller and change agent. As a successful female entrepreneur and CEO, she has motivated many women around the world.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
I am passionate about animal welfare and find a way to contribute. Earlier, these were through volunteer sabbaticals with wildlife charities in Africa, feeding stray cats and dogs in Delhi and Riyadh and now volunteering as a Trustee on the board of an animal charity. I also started my MBA journey in 2018 and am currently in the final phase of the three-year journey working on the MBA project dissertation.
I love travelling and exploring the world for history and wildlife. In spite of the pandemic, we have found places to explore in the UK and currently, we are enjoying a month at a historic cottage in the Lake District.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you been managing it?
Well, I am currently between assignments, so I would definitely say the job search is definitely more challenging in the pandemic, as is integrating well into a new organisation. I try to bring as much of my IRL characteristics to any meeting with potential recruiters or hiring managers.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
Yes, I am fortunate enough to have a few mentors in my life, and I do regularly mentor a couple of ex-colleagues and a former team member. I am very grateful to some of my mentors, such as Ruzbeh Irani of Mahindra Group and Rajan Mehra of Nirvana Ventures, for all their advice and support of my career goals.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
Keep yourself abreast of news, pop culture and societal trends. Do a lot of research on just the company but also the whole ecosystem (competition, key stakeholders, regulatory environment). Know the top journalists and influencers in the industry.
I also advise young communicators to start their career in a public relations agency to hone their public relations and communications experience across a wide spectrum of clients and go in-house after about 6 to 7 years of experience. This really worked for me.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
Maybe the challenge as a whole seems insurmountable, or they can't see the end goal or perhaps lack of persistence. I always feel there is a way to break down challenges into chunks you can tackle or find an alternative route around it. To be fair, I am an optimist and quite resilient.
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
"Leadership is unlocking people's potential to become better." - Bill Bradley.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead.
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
Body Shop, Dove, Patagonia, Starbucks, Tesla and Amazon. In the UK, the NHS has done a great job of communicating during the pandemic.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
Success to me is the impact you make and the influence you command. I would offer the following life lessons to readers in the hope that some of them may find them useful.
Find your purpose and passion in life.
Be authentic in your leadership, be kind and empathetic in your interpersonal relationships and be focused on your projects.
Bring your best self to work.
Always act with integrity.
Cherish the mentors and family members who are part of your personal board and try to pay it forward by supporting others in their goals.
Hone your emotional intelligence, a much-needed leadership skill today.
Develop business acumen. Be a lifelong learner and keep yourself open to new trends, new concepts, new ideas.