Meet Lucy MacKenzie – 288 Group’s Trading Director

An interview with Lucy and her journey from Email and Content Manager to Trading Director.

How long have you worked for 288 Group? Tell us a little of your journey to becoming Trading Director.

I joined 288 Group in 2014, initially working in The Westminster Collection Digital Team as Email and Content Manager. Six months later I was promoted to Product Group Manager and moved to our Product Management team where I have stayed ever since! In the role of Trading Director, I now oversee both Product Management and Merchandising Teams for The Westminster Collection. We’re responsible for the lifecycle of each product – everything from sourcing and buying to the marketing strategy and campaign analysis.

What has been your proudest moment in your current job?

For me personally it is joining the Board of Directors in 2019, but from a team perspective I’ve been really proud of how we have adapted to different ways of working throughout the pandemic. From having never worked from home before to doing it full time and dealing with exceptionally high customer demand while also facing supply chain issues on a scale we had never encountered before; the team have shown resilience in how they have handled these challenges.

What are some of the great things about working at 288 Group?

There are several benefits working at 288, from flexible working to an extra day of holiday so you can have your birthday off, but I think one of the best things is the investment in training. We have several trainers who come in regularly to provide training tailored specifically to us on topics such as giving feedback, project management, and negotiating, but we also offer professional qualifications including the IDM’s Professional Diploma in Intelligent Marketing to graduates within their first 2 years of joining.

What is your ambition for your team in 2022 and beyond?

Earlier this year we introduced four company values of Respect, Ambition, Openness and Support, to guide us in how we deal with each other and our customers. They were challenging to embed whilst working remotely, but now that we’re back in the office for most of our week I would really like to see my team championing these values to build a strong company culture, help guide our decision-making, and improve our communication.

Any advice for future leaders?

Use your own initiative for your growth and development – learn about different management styles, request 360 feedback, find a mentor in the role you aspire to. There are a lot of free resources available, but you can also learn from your colleagues.