A week in the life of an Impact Manager: Helena

Have you ever wondered what the role of an Impact Manager looks like day by day? We followed Helena for a week to learn just exactly what their role entails and what an average week at Open Media looks like for them. 

 

After joining the company in 2021, initially in an Operations Assistant role, Helena has since then implemented the sustainability strategy within the business and been a driving force, along with the other members of the Green Team, behind our B Corp certification and other sustainability-focused initiatives. With their latest role comes a varied range of tasks, from completing a singular materiality assessment, to collecting and monitoring data, to managing internal culture programmes, making no two weeks look the same.

My Monday morning kicked off by taking the bus into town, where I’m committed to getting my Duolingo done (le français, if you’re curious). Then, it’s a short walk along the iconic Liverpool waterfront. Our Liverpool office is based in the Royal Liver Building, and I’m reminded of how fortunate I am to call this space my place of work. 

 

The week always begins with our Monday morning meeting, bringing the entire team together, both in person and virtually. It gives us a chance to connect, share updates and discuss the priorities for the coming week. This particular Monday was extra special as we welcomed a new starter! A key part of my day was ensuring their smooth onboarding with a session on Open’s culture. We’ve invested a huge amount of effort into developing our new induction and culture packs, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see them in action and receive such positive feedback.

 

Ahead of a busy rest of the week, I was in the office on Tuesday working on a few interesting projects which have been running in the background for a while now. My priority today was continuing work on our B Corp resubmission. Every three years, B Corp-certified businesses must resubmit their application to demonstrate their continued commitment and evidence the progress they’re making through impact reports. The ultimate aim is to improve our score, which covers multiple areas of focus for purpose-driven businesses. We have made leaps with our resubmission score through initiatives like our personal development fund, available to all staff and replenished annually. It’s been really satisfying to work on the resubmission as it has allowed us to revisit and prove all the great work we have done over the past three years. 

 

Another task on my list was to collect the data for our Emissions Reporting for the previous month. Each month, I collect energy usage data from our sites using Utopi and input it into our emissions management platform, Futureproof. This contributes to Open Media’s Carbon Footprint measurement for the year. 

 

My final task of the day was to organise the next Culture Tuesday event for the Liverpool team. Culture Tuesdays are a bonding activity, chosen by the team, with a chance to do something fun which isn’t centred around alcohol and going out. Previous editions have included; cooking classes, cinema visits, kayaking in the Albert Dock and even rock climbing!

Wednesday marks the start of a whirlwind two days for me, kicking off with a trip to Manchester for the LEAD North event, followed by an exciting Open Chat breakfast with MEFA in London on Thursday.

 

LEAD North, spearheaded by the Advertising Association (the force behind Ad Net Zero), brought together industry leaders in Manchester for an afternoon focused on Driving Growth and Value. The day was packed with incredibly insightful talks from inspiring individuals, and it was so great to connect with some industry peers! 

 

A personal highlight of mine was a discussion on the ethics of journalism. Representatives from publications such as the Liverpool Echo, Manchester Evening News, The Telegraph, The Times, and the Daily Mail explored how the media can best represent the North, moving beyond its portrayal solely during times of tragedy. 

 

Councillor Bev Craig also delivered a fantastic keynote speech, which included interesting statistics on regeneration in both Manchester and the North. The event was a huge success, and I’m already looking forward to next year!

 

After the event had wrapped up, I quickly found a spot to grab a coffee and join a virtual Ad Net Zero meeting for UK & US supporters. Attendees included members from various Ad Net Zero working groups, such as the Steering Group, Young Leaders, and the SME Working Group, of which I’m a part.

 

As a member of the SME Working Group, I was invited to speak about Open Media’s materiality assessment journey. This process was crucial in helping us set our targets for the year and identify the topics we need to address. My talk flew by, and being involved in initiatives like these highlights how far I’ve come in such a short space of time in my career, and is genuinely one of my favourite aspects of my job.

 

Shortly after this, I headed to Piccadilly to catch my train to London for another busy day tomorrow.

Waking up in a very hot London, I was buzzing for a special edition of our Open Chat this month, in collaboration with MEFA. MEFA’s mission is to help Black, Asian, mixed-race, and ethnic minority talent thrive in the media and advertising industry. I am extremely passionate about DEI, so to have played a role in this event is an absolute honour. 

 

Our Open Chat breakfast events were founded by our Chief Revenue Officer, Fiona Ravlic, who brings women in media together to share their lived experiences and stories, and offer support and advice. This particular session was truly special and, as always, filled with inspiring and honest conversations. We had a deep dive from three senior women in the industry, all centred around the overriding theme of ‘how can we do better?’. I left feeling incredibly inspired, equipped with insights to support others going forward, and we received incredible feedback on the safe space created within the room.

 

After the Open Chat, I found a quiet spot to catch up on emails, and once I was up to date, it was time to meet the Electric Glue team for lunch. We debriefed on the event we co-hosted in March, which celebrated B Corp Month. It was lovely to catch up with the team and revisit the success of the event. We’ve even started putting plans in place for next year’s event, which has already got me excited for 2026! 

 

After a jam-packed day in the capital, it was time to catch my train and head home to Liverpool. I had a great time in London, connecting with both members of Team Open and our partners, but I was definitely looking forward to a rest and my own bed

As the week came to a close, I was working from home after an insightful (but busy!) few days. For me, the past week has been a true testament to the power of purpose-driven business and connection, from industry leaders at LEAD North to championing diversity at the Open Chat. 

 

A particular highlight of my week was sharing Open Media’s materiality assessment journey with the Ad Net Zero Working Group and discussing how important this was in forming our company’s goals and strategy. I believe that being part of the B Corp movement is important, as it provides an opportunity to highlight and champion sustainable business practices, while setting standards and inspiring other purpose-driven businesses in the UK.

 

My weekend plans involve a dinner with my friends, and a trip to the cinema. I’m a big film fan, so as soon as there’s a new release, I’m usually first in the queue to see it! After a busy week, I’m looking forward to relaxing and recharging ready to go again on Monday!