Promotions and new joiners kick off 2024 at Empower

As we start the new year at Empower, we’re celebrating our fantastic team expanding and flourishing in exciting progressions. We’re also recruiting for new team members: take a look at the Junior Account Director role, for example.

As we grow, the collaborative achievements of the Empower team have resulted in successful client campaigns and partnerships, and the career progression of our team.

…and we have a new Account Executive, Roxanna, joining us!

New joiner: Roxanna Vatandoust, Account Executive

With a background in social media and activism, Roxanna joined Empower as an Account Executive as of January 2024.

We spoke to Roxanna about how her time at Empower has been so far, and what she looks forward to this year:

“I’m so excited to have started my role as an Account Executive at Empower. From meeting the team during the interview process, to being welcomed and on-boarded thoroughly upon my start-date, the whole process of joining Empower has been wonderful. I’m delighted to be working across multiple accounts at a truly purpose-led agency with the support of the Account Managers, Account Directors and the rest of the amazing team.”

– Roxanna Vatandoust, Account Executive

Promotions: Kate O’Neill, Bongi Kellner, Camila De La Parra

As for Kate, Bongi and Camila, during their time at Empower they have greatly contributed towards as well as long-standing campaigns for nonprofits and purpose-led clients, as well as recent projects and client wins.

With impressive individual and collective experience, we’re so excited to see their work across different accounts this year as they take on their well-deserved new roles.

Kate O’Neill – Account Manager to Account Director

Since joining Empower in March 2022, Kate has set a high standard for Account Management and evolved many of our best practices, while delivering exemplary client work across Joseph Rowntree Foundation, We Mean Business, Plan International and B Corp – to name a few.

Kate has really embraced and been instrumental to Empower’s recent evolution, and is a colleague many of us turn to for inspiration and problem solving.

With a passion for the impact that digital media can have in bringing change, Kate reflects on her time at Empower and the year ahead in her new role:

“I am really excited to take on my new role as Account Director at Empower. I’ve been lucky to be given so many opportunities during my time at Empower to take on new challenges and grow my skills and confidence. In my new role I hope to continue to take on challenges and grow, but I’m now also looking forward to being in a position to help support my colleagues to progress their skills and grow their confidence. It’s going to be a great year ahead.”

– Kate O’Neill, Account Director

Bongi Kellner – Social Media Manager to Account Manager

Bongi joined Empower during its early days, and has been foundational in establishing excellence in our daily client delivery.  Key accounts have included Business for Nature and the UNFCCC High Level Champions and Race to Zero through COP26.

Bongi has over five years of experience, and prior to joining Empower had worked with a range of brands. Now taking on an Account Manager role at Empower, she reflects on her career progression since joining Empower:

“As one of Empower’s first employees, it’s been great to see career paths and opportunities shaping – and I am so grateful to be working in an organisation where personal life (having recently had a baby) doesn’t hinder my career progression.”

– Bongi Kellner, Account Manager

Empower were delighted to assess Bongi for promotion before her maternity leave and promote her to her new position before her leave started, in order to recognise her readiness to step into a new role on her return.

Camila De La Parra Account Executive to Account Manager

Camila joined Empower as an Account Executive in March 2023, and quickly showed she was intended to be a great Account Manager, thanks to her impressive client handling and impeccable organisation. 

Prior to Empower, Camila had worked with third-sector and cultural organisations in the UK and abroad.

As a passionate, creative problem-solver, who enjoys the whole social media process, Camila has been instrumental in successfully delivering campaigns for the UNFCCC High Level Climate Champions, Business for Nature and Earth Commission.

We’re thrilled to have Camila as an Account Manager now, where she’ll be working alongside the Account Directors to lead and deliver campaigns for various clients. 

“Having a supportive team is key to career progression. At Empower, I learn from and am inspired by my coworkers on the daily: their work ethic, positive outlook and kindness make it a joy to show up to work every day. As a newly promoted Account Manager, I’m excited to continue strengthening Empower’s relationship with purposeful organisations, finding new challenges to solve, and fostering a collaborative environment where we can all do our best work.”

Congratulations Kate, Bongi, Camila and Roxanna! 

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“Empower’s team is so special, and it is a joy to see people flourishing in roles with us. Empower and our clients benefit when people are able to stretch and grow, and we feel lucky to have Roxanna, Kate, Bongi and Camila on our team. We’re so pleased to celebrate these three amazing colleagues stepping up to new positions in 2024.”

– Jaz Cummins, Co-Founder