Lori Meakin

After five years as an English teacher, Lori found a new world in which she could analyse people's motivations and behavior, inspire creativity and help nurture talent.

Starting out as a planner at Duckworth Finn Grubb Waters she worked on HEA Drugs Education, helping to create what was effectively a social media campaign before social media really existed, eventually co-authoring its IPA Effectiveness Grand Prix winning paper.

Her greatest co-creations of all arrived soon after.

Over the following years she balanced being a mum of two with, amongst other things helping develop Volkswagen's new service proposition, at The Foundation.

Establishing HSBC as The World's Local Bank, at Lowe.

Inspiring Red Bee to create a new channel identity.

Encouraging people to gather round the nation's campfire, BBC One, with a new channel identity as well as getting them interacting with BBC TV by pressing the red button, whilst at Red Bee.

Helping launch BBC's iPlayer.

And positioning M&S as "Quality Worth Every Penny" through recessionary times, winning awards including IPA, Marketing Society and Marketing Week Engage awards for effectiveness and becoming Joint Head of Planning, whilst at RKCR/Y&R.

A decade ago, Lori promised her family she'd go freelance once her girls were at secondary school. Honouring that promise, she then spent nearly a year working with an even more diverse group of people, for brands including dfs, New Look and HSBC (again).

Until her daughters asked her why she was still 'driving with the brakes on' in her career. And told her they'd love her to help build something that really makes them proud...