Lauren Regan
Lauren Regan on championing creativity
Helped along by her flair for creativity and the support of her entrepreneurial family, Lauren Regan decided it was time to make her own mark on the North East following the pandemic. That’s why she set up MOLE - a creative consultancy helping non-profits, SMEs and entrepreneurs in the region. Lauren spoke to Pattern about her varied career path, the importance of different perspectives, and the highlights of running her own business.
Edited by Ruby Guyler Photographs by Christopher Owens
Give me a brief history of your career.
I grew up in Gateshead and went to a school known for its science programme. They didn’t really know how to advise the arty kid who would accidentally melt the plastic bunsen burners and only enjoyed biology when we got to talk about animals! I still take a fairly scientific approach to creative problem solving, so maybe some of that learning did stick in the end.
I ended up studying PR at Leeds Met and, ironically, I hated it! I was given an offer to study Fine Art at Newcastle University, which I did for around a month, and then transferred to English Language and Linguistics where I found my people. I discovered that I loved all aspects of language, which led me to my first job as a storyteller at Seven Stories (The National Centre for Children’s Books) when I was in my final year of study.
I joined the marketing team at Seven Stories after graduating and stayed there for seven years. The arts and culture sector in the North East will always have a very special place in my heart; we learnt as we went and just didn’t have enough money to not think creatively! I still use the problem-solving techniques I learnt there today (though I’m in costumes much less, which is a shame).
After Seven Stories, I moved to a global company which paired future medics with shadowing opportunities around the world. It was there that I was lucky enough to work across the US before joining Kari and her team at O Agency, where I started out as an Account Manager with no agency experience, and ended as Associate Director after six years.
I was always very open about wanting to run my own business one day, and post-pandemic I wanted that one day to be now. I’m not going to have kids and I wanted to build something that was mine - to make a positive difference in a region that I adore. I come from a pretty entrepreneurial family, and my parents have always championed the idea that I can do anything with a bit of hard work! So in 2022, MOLE was born.
Tell me about MOLE. What do you attribute to its success?
MOLE was built to champion the North East and encourage creative thinking. I love our non-profits, SMEs and entrepreneurs, and I wanted to create a business that could be affordable enough to support them at the start of that journey and beyond. We’re a fresh pair of eyes on everything from brand identity to campaigns.
Our clients range massively. We’ve helped manufacturing and tech companies who are looking for a new creative approach to their communications; regional charities focused on raising the aspirations of our young people; a national events company putting the North East on the map; and a wedding consultant and celebrant who’s changing the face of the industry. It’s a total mix!
I have been referred to clients by people I worked with 5 - 10 years ago, so I think a lot is down to having a reputation for being nice to work with (I hope!) and having an analytical approach to being creative, which delivers results.
What do you love most about what you do every day?
I’m incredibly nosey and I love learning new things, so it’s fascinating discovering the ins and outs of businesses and sectors that I haven’t been exposed to before. The part of my day that I love the most is supporting business owners and teams to see their organisation - one that they’ve been part of for years - from a different perspective and giving them the tools to articulate that. It’s really satisfying to see the new messaging out in the world and get people talking.
“I don’t like to think about my journey in terms of sacrifices - where I am now is just the product of a series of choices I have made along the way, like stepping on stones across a river”
Have you had to make sacrifices in your chosen career, and have they been worth it?
Looking back, walking away from a regular salary was a sacrifice at the time. However, I’m not that averse to risks, so it didn’t really feel like it in the moment. I’m incredibly lucky to have a supportive partner and family who have cheered me along through every wild idea! I don’t like to think about my journey in terms of sacrifices - where I am now is just the product of a series of choices I have made along the way, like stepping on stones across a river.
What are some of your daily rituals and why are they part of your routine?
Having an enormous six-and-a-bit-stone dog is a big incentive to get out and about every lunch time (I can’t get him out of bed before 8am)! We’ve got into the routine of getting some fresh air every day, which is when I take the time to breathe, work through tricky problems, or just listen to a podcast – I’m currently loving ‘If Books Could Kill’ on Spotify.
I’m also learning Arabic (and I’m really not a natural language learner) so I’ve got into the habit of doing at least 15 minutes of lessons every day, which helps to engage a different part of my brain.
How do you stay focused and productive in a world of distractions?
I know I get distracted pretty easily, but I also think it’s part of why I’m good at what I do. Staying up to date with the latest news, trends, business developments and innovations helps me to stay relevant and inspired for the sectors that I work in, but because I recognise that about myself, I can take steps to ensure it’s in moderation. During the day, I can’t have my phone next to me and I take time out to check emails, rather than having them open all the time.
I’m a big believer in being present in the moment and giving the task or the person in front of you 100% of your attention. My biggest pet peeve is emails in meetings, or someone looking at their phone when they’re talking to you. It really gives me the red mist.
In my personal life, I’m a notorious hobby starter… someone will be getting the cross stitch I started three years ago as a gift this Christmas, promise!
If you had the power to change the world, what would you change?
That depends on what my day has been like! But, seriously, I think we have the capability to change the world by listening to each other with the intent to understand, rather than to respond. If I could snap my fingers and make one change tomorrow, I would want us to start thinking as a global community, rather than focusing on what divides us. If we want to solve our social, environmental and economic issues, we have to start working together, looking at these issues from different perspectives and bringing different voices into the room. If we don’t, we’re just going to keep going round in circles.