A Week With #TeamSleek - Part 2!

At Sleek we are all about making greater connections, be it with our teammates, our clients or our friends and family.

We believe it’s important to really get to know the people that make a business what it is, so every quarter we spend a week with a few members of the team behind Sleek so you can see what makes them tick.

Carla Maylin - Sleek Project Controller

First up it’s Carla, our Office Manager with twenty years in the event industry under her belt, working in both large corporations and boutique agencies. The Sleek team benefits every day from her wealth of experience and key contacts. Carla also supports our Finance team alongside being our resident mixologist for our now (in)famous Thursday Team Drinks.

Ok let’s get to work… Which part of your job makes you get up in the morning?

There’s nothing better than the buzz of working in an agency like Sleek and I’m so happy to be back in the office with the team. There’s always an incredible event on the horizon and I love the energy that brings.

Without sounding too geeky, I enjoy a good process and working to deadlines. Sleek has robust processes where needed and this ensures things run smoothly in the background so that the events team have the freedom to be creative. Although I love the functional elements of the business I don’t have a traditional corporate personality and I like that I’m free to be myself here. My default setting is a smile!

Coffee break, I’m looking for some advice… What career guidance would you give based on your experience in the industry?

Get stuck in! This is a fantastic industry to work in and offer to help wherever you can. You’ll make better social connections within your company and pick up new skills.

I’ve worked at a vast amount of agencies throughout my career and work is such a big part of our daily lives, it’s important to spend your time somewhere you enjoy. A good tip is to look at how a company treats freelancers as it will reflect the culture for how they value people… are they made to feel part of the team? Given training and support? I love that Jen has ensured that freelancers feel 100% part of Sleek and our onboarding process for both freelancers and employees is outstanding in my opinion.

It’s the weekend, what are we up to? (I’m still recovering from your mixology skills so go easy on me!)

Well, I’m a big fan of a bit of pampering so let’s go for treatment, I’ve got my nails done at the office this week so maybe a massage?

I love enjoying all London has to offer, checking out the views on the Radio Rooftop Bar or heading to Somerset House. I also like to keep it local and take my Nan to bingo every Sunday, I won £160 on one game! It’s brilliant fun.

If I’m getting away I prefer to go a bit further afield, so we may need longer than a weekend. Salvador Bahia in Brazil is a favourite and I’m a big fan of meditation and have attended a retreat in Siem Reap in Cambodia, it’s the most incredible place and experience.

Clare Timmins - Project Director

Known to the team as ‘CT’, our resident Project Director boasts over 12 years events industry experience, which essentially means she’s seen it all!

Clare has been behind events for the legal Bar Council, esteemed charities and planned large scale conferences across South East Asia. Noted at Sleek for her cool head under pressure and love of Little Mix.

Ok let’s get to work… Which part of your job makes you get up in the morning?

I enjoy being part of a team and I really love where I’m at in my career right now. As a Project Director, you are the linchpin for the entire event so you get to experience it all and manage how each cog fits together. It means I get to work directly with lots of very interesting and talented people.

I will often be the direct contact for the client throughout the project so it’s great to build that relationship and create something that exceeds their expectations

Our events can often be very large and very intricate, I love seeing it start as an idea and then come to life over a period of months. It’s incredible to get on site after all the hard work and see it come to life.

Coffee break, I’m looking for some advice… What career guidance would you give based on your experience in the industry?

My big tip is that you can have a calm demeanour no matter what. I promise! There’s always a solution and you and your team can find it. It is inevitable we will all come up against challenges from time to time, that’s the nature of work and taking a breath, looking at the situation objectively and working out the best solution with your team will ensure you get the best outcome. There’s no need for stress.

If you're starting your career, know that every task, no matter how seemingly small, is vital to the overall project's success. I’m so glad I always gave my best because now I’m leading the project I realise how truly critical that work is.

The last one is to remember to have confidence in your prep for an event. The team works so hard to bring these ideas to life for thousands and you should enjoy your time on site.

It’s the weekend, what are we up to? 

Well if you are feeling spontaneous let’s hop on a plane? Nothing like a last-minute getaway! 

But if we are staying in London, starting with an F45 gym class, it’s intense but you’ll feel amazing afterwards. For lunch, I’m an equal fan of both pub gardens and boujee restaurants, as long as the food is good.

I can’t talk about food without giving my brothers Herne Hill restaurant and business a well-deserved mention. He’s one half of utter waffle and their food is sooo good, genuinely. We’ll be heading there for sure.

I’m very much into live music, I see you already gave my Little Mix fandom a mention! Outside of that, I’m more into the Radio X genre, gigs at Brixton Academy etc. Actually, if there’s a festival on that’s where we’d be; I’ve been to Glasto, Secret Garden and Mighty Hoopla and it’s the best way to spend a weekend.

Benjamin Asslan - Senior 3D Designer

Ben is our resident Designer who is behind the stunning digital and print branding at our events - he’s also created window and store designs for some of the world's best-known fashion houses. The Sleek team gets to benefit directly from his skills as he’s currently designing the new Sleek offices! 

Ok let’s get to work… Which part of your job makes you get up in the morning?

I love the variety my role at Sleek brings. I have the opportunity to work across so many different brands and design formats using some amazing apps like the Adobe creative suite. 

As a privately owned agency, I find there’s the opportunity to be involved in so many areas of the business and see the direct impact of my work and how it benefits our clients and my colleagues. 

Lastly, I enjoy that my job means I’m working in both a creative and technical way at the same time. 

Coffee break, I’m looking for some advice… What career guidance would you give based on your experience in the industry?

If you are just starting to learn design, experiment and don’t be afraid to make mistakes as it’s an essential part of the creative process.

I would say it’s also so important to be curious and find inspiration - we live in an age where everything is so accessible, you can go online and find so much to inspire you for your next project.

Finally, always give your best, there’s creativity and opportunity in every single project - no matter how functional it could initially seem.

It’s the weekend, what are we up to?

Drinks in the sunshine, London has the most amazing G&T’s! I’m Parisian born and raised and G&T is less prominent there.

I love that London has such variety and it’s great to just explore, you could be looking over the Thames and it’s the vast landmark images from postcards and then you take a few turns and are in what feels like a very quaint neighbourhood street.

If we were going to travel it would be long haul, I absolutely love Japan, the culture & cuisine. I travel to Asia whenever I can, up to four times a year.

I can’t let you go without giving  you a recommendation for a weekend in Paris can I? Les Fous de L’ile is an incredible restaurant, the food and interiors are stunning!