This Spotlight Interview is with our fab Managing Director – Jo Ashdown
How did your career path lead you to the role of Managing Director at Mando?
I started my career in media sales and ended up in creative partnerships working on magazines like Heat and Closer magazine, later in my career I worked in production and events – with a leaning towards partnerships with artists and platforms and finally I started specialising in loyalty partnerships around 10 years ago.
Which is your most used loyalty/reward platform?
It’s a classic but the BA Amex card, once you experience the delight of free flights and points you can upgrade with, its hard to give up. Other ones I use on a regular basis is Vodafone VeryMe, I’m a customer as well as them being my client. Space NK to feed my skincare passion and my local pub has a loyalty scheme, that sees frequent use.
What would be your dream partnership/promotion to create?
It’s a bit deep but the world is in a sorry and saddening state at the moment so I’d love to work with institutions like the government to find ways to partner with the countries brightest minds and business and bring them into the arena of politics and innovation so they can start helping this country, other countries, our global reputation and help future proof for new generations.
What is your favourite thing/hobby to do outside of work?
I have a small skincare brand called House of Glow, which is so different to what I do at Mando-Connect and gives me a different kind of creative outlet.
If you could have a new skill overnight, what would it be?
Teleporting but I’d need to be able to take friends and family away with me so we can jet off anywhere in no time!
What is your favourite part of your day-to-day role?
Ideation and problem solving. I love coming up with new partnerships and ideas for clients and new business proposals. And resolving a problem with a positive outcome for all is really satisfying.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Its cheesy, but ‘Lose the battle, win the war’.
My interpretation is, fight for the things you really care about and try not to sweat the small stuff, or battle something that isn’t truly important to you, in life and business.
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
Celebrity name drop….I once bonded with Pharrell Williams over our dislike of dates, the fruit.
What’s the one holiday destination you would recommend to everyone?
Kenya, I just returned, and it was amazing, the highlight was of course Safari, its like being in the middle of a live action Disney film, couldn’t have been happier, it was a wow moment.
What did you want to be when you were younger?
Travel agent – I think I still would, aside from this job of course.
