Jamie Hewitt joined MI over ten years ago and has seen the agency grow and develop over the decade. Last year he became the agency’s joint managing director, here he lets us look behind the scenes of the role of an MD.

What led you to a career in media?

I started getting a flavour for the industry through family connections and work experience when I was 15. I continued to spend my summers building experience in various small agencies, even spending time on graduate days with IPC. When I finished my A levels, this experience gave me the option of going to university or getting stuck in with my first job on the bottom rung of the media ladder. I’ve never been super academic, but I do enjoy structure with the freedom to be creative, so I chose the latter and haven’t looked back since! If I didn’t work in media, I would have either become a chef or joined the army!  

What does a typical day look like for you?

I typically start the week by making sure there’s milk in the fridge and biscuits in the tin for the team – we all know that a Milk Chocolate Hobnob is the winner! Beyond this, my job is to ensure the smooth running of MI Media. From looking after our people and keeping our clients happy to keeping the lights on in the office! On any given day this can look like 121s with the teams, joining a finance review or running client strategy sessions. For me it’s always been about being hands on and never asking anyone to do something that you wouldn’t do yourself. 

What mistake have you learned from the most?

I’ve made some clangers! But what stands out for me is that I lacked confidence in the early part of my career. I’m naturally an introvert, and it took me a long time to understand that this is not a negative trait but my superpower. So it took me a good while to push myself, commit, and be braver. We are fortunate to work in a people-based industry, you can always ask for help and support. You’d be surprised at how much people are willing to get involved and lend a hand. 

Who’s your role model and why?

I’ve always been a fan of military history and cooking, as my other possible careers might suggest! So Major Dick Winters of Band of Brother fame, and the infamous chef Anthony Bourdain both come to mind as two people that literally lived their lives on the front line, were great leaders in their fields and had a work hard play hard ethic!