“The freedom (in every sense of the word) that consulting and working for yourself enables is something that I believe everyone should strive for.”

- Rebecca Mackay Miller

This month we are talking to women who work in consulting, we have a series of intriguing interviews with inspiring women currently working in the sector.  

Rebecca Mackay Miller is a Brand Strategist, Word of Mouth aficionado and founder of BLOC + ROSE, a consultancy that helps small business owners connect to, embody and own their brand.

Before launching BLOC + ROSE, Rebecca rose through the ranks at leading beauty and drinks brands before spending five years at the helm of a Word of Mouth agency. She is unashamedly obsessed with the psychology behind human behaviour, navigating the gap between what brands want said, and what their customers actually need to hear. Rebecca also now consults for marketing agencies, helping them build brand strategies for their clients.  

What types of consulting projects have you worked on?

I’m a brand strategist and word of mouth marketing expert. I help small business owners build brands they love and that their audiences can’t stop talking about. My tagline is ‘The Art of Figuring Shit Out’. And that’s what I do. My clients are exceptionally talented, soulful founders building their own empires who want to refocus, pivot or evolve their businesses, but often have so much going on in their heads they just don’t know where to start. I delve in, dig everything out, connect the dots and help map out a brand strategy that will ensure they get to where they want to go. Then translate it all into compelling, relatable messages and stories their audience re-tell over and over again.

What does an average working day look like?

We’re usually rudely awoken by a tiny human at 6am. We have cuddles and coffee (not for the baby, obvs) in bed before I drop her off at nursery. I’ll grab another coffee from my local on the way home and at my desk by 8.30am. Mornings are either strategy sessions with clients or writing and content planning. Afternoons are calls, emails and more client work. I break at about 3.30ish when the babe gets home. Evenings are for chilling, usually, but if I do work I start late and end late.

How did you get into consulting?

On a Wednesday in 2017, I was made redundant from a head honcho role at a marketing agency. That Saturday, we moved into a new house and the following morning found out I was pregnant. I think the saying goes ‘you couldn’t write that shit’, yet here I am! I firmly believe everything happens for a reason. I always knew that would be my last proper job and after dabbling with a pivot into millinery I saw sense and launched BLOC + ROSE, combining my love of brand storytelling, geeky fascination with the psychology of what gets people talking and what I’m really good at: figuring things out.

What do you love about consulting?

The freedom and creativity of being your own boss is joyful. I get to choose to work with incredible, inspiring founders doing what I love – seeing that ‘light bulb’ moment when everything starts to click into place literally makes my day.

How is the work-life balance? 

It ebbs and flows. Some weeks are busier than others but it’s always manageable as I have no one else to answer to (except my toddler!). The time I’m able to spend with my family is priceless – I literally have no idea how I would have found balance while working full time.  

What is the biggest misconception about consulting? 

That we sit in our pjs doing sweet FA all day and charging through the roof for it?! It might get a laugh, but the truth is we pour blood, sweat and tears into our businesses. We still have bills to pay, mouths to feed and mortgages to cover. The hardest working people I’ve ever met work for themselves.    

Would you recommend consulting to a young person, and why?  

Yes, but not yet! The freedom (in every sense of the word) that consulting and working for yourself enables is something that I believe everyone should strive for. That said, not having a team to bounce ideas off or look to for reassurance can be isolating and lonely at times; you have to dig deep. Having a few solid years of experience to fall back on is invaluable, plus it offers up credibility in the bucket loads.

For more resources click here to discover all about the Women In Consulting (WIC) organisation. It is a dynamic organisation of seasoned professional consultants in a broad range of more than 30 specialties, ranging from engineering to financial advising and marketing to web design. 

WIC was established in 1998 as a collaborative community to help foster successful consulting practices and to build stronger businesses. They provide education and enable the sharing of best practices, resources and expertise.