Join us for a Catalyx Coffee with Jo.
Each month our Brand Manager, Esmeralda Voegele-Downing, sits down with one of our fantastic team members to have a catch-up over a cup of coffee in which you can get to know some of the people who make Catalyx tick and what they’re up to…
I caught up with Joanna Stobart, a key player in Catalyx’s Client Strategy team. Based in our London office and an integral part of the fabric of it, Joanna’s strategic insights are consistently guiding clients towards success. But, if you spot her zipping through the city on her trusty electric scooter, you’ll get a glimpse of the energy she brings to both her work and personal life.
Joanna is known within her team for her storytelling flair. Whether she’s crafting the narrative for a client strategy or sharing her latest life adventures, there’s always a compelling tale to buckle in for. Want to experience Joanna’s energy and strategic brilliance first-hand? Keep reading to savour this Catalyx Coffee and get to know Jo a little better…
What have you been doing today?
I’ve been finishing a Path-to-Purchase report for the baby care sector. We give clients an overall view for why consumers are triggered to think about purchasing within the category, through to research and consideration, down to the final purchasing decision stage. So, it’s about getting them over the line and looking at the implications to find how this brand can grow in the category. That’s been my main task! I do have another project that’s all about food and personal warming products in the camping sector. For that one we’re assessing the opportunity for the client in order to provide them with some paths to bring these concepts into quite varying sectors.
Wow. Are your days and weeks always so diverse?
I would say so – yeah! You’ve got to be agile to adapt to the range. It’s a big thing in consultancy and agency life. You may have a rigid plan for the day or the week, but really, you’ve just got to be flexible. So, it’s making sure you’re feeding into what will benefit the company and the clients most of all. I’d say I’m involved in 3-5 projects at any one time.
If something tried and tested isn’t working, we have to approach it with a new solution. When I approach a puzzle in outside situations, I do find that I am usually ready to tackle it from a lot of different ways.
I heard you had an adventure recently. Tell me about your holiday!
Oh, my holidays were amazing!
Wait, holidays – plural?
Yes! [Laughs] I spent a day and half in Venice, I got the coach from Venice to Ljubljana. It was primarily a Slovenia trip but I love Venice so much – I had to tack it on! I’ll tell you about the two highlights of the trip, and one story. Paragliding was one of the highlights, you had to run all the way to the edge of the cliff. I tried to stop but the instructor said we had to commit! It was incredible, we went over lake Bled for 20 minutes.
The other highlight was paddle boarding, it was the first time I’d done that. There was an island in the middle of the lake with an old church on. I just felt so happy on the lake in the sunshine. The lowlight of the trip was staying in an automated capsule hostel. I’m not sure if it was a robot or a person who insulted me when I tried to adjust the lights. You had to use a WhatsApp chat to get assistance and I learned that a child (apparently) was meant to be able to figure the lights out, and the chat contact threatened that if I couldn’t they’d cancel my stay! I figured it out myself… Eventually.
Whether it’s projects or online courses, or friendships or things you want to achieve for the year. I’d say Never Settle acts as a reminder for you not to accept something below what you really want!
You’d have thought that being a Strategist means you’d be able to puzzle your way out! Would you say that the way you think at work helps you outside of work?
That’s a really good question. Thinking outside of the box definitely helps me at work. If something tried and tested isn’t working, we have to approach it with a new solution. When I approach a puzzle in outside situations, I do find that I am usually ready to tackle if from a lot of different ways.
I even find ways to use AI outside of work, too. My friends and I asked it to write us a birthday message by giving it positive and negative facts about ourselves; we found the results very funny. It was a jumping off point for me, too, in using Claude and ChatGPT, and I had that more unusual angle in approaching it for my role.
Also, the whole Never Settle mantra at Catalyx, I’d say I definitely bring that outside of work, too! It makes you think about not accepting things that are below standard for you. Whether it’s projects or online courses, or friendships or things you want to achieve for the year. I’d say Never Settle acts as a reminder for you not to accept something below what you really want!
Curious about Catalyx?
We’re ready to unlock your innovation’s success, and our team won’t settle until our work does just that.
Find out more about life at Catalyx including our values, ethos and careers on Our Culture page, or follow us on LinkedIn to make sure you never miss an announcement.
