Meet the Team: Kirstie Nickson
PR consultant Kirstie Nickson is co-founder of the Isle of Man Women’s Collective, as well as a director and co-owner of Sidekick PR. Here, Ramsey-based Kirstie discusses her own entrepreneurial journey and shares her hopes for the Collective, too.
Tell us a bit about your background and how you came to be running a business?
Like so many Manxies, I left the Isle of Man at 18-years-old to go to university, where I studied journalism at Sheffield. During this time I was lucky enough to get a paid job as a PR assistant in the city and, after graduating, landed a job at one of the city’s most well-known agencies.
Fast forward almost a decade and, after climbing the ladder into management, I took the leap and set up Sidekick PR with two former colleagues. We each own one third of the business and are about to enter our ninth year.
I remember feeling absolutely terrified at the thought of leaving stable employment to set up a new company and, if it hadn’t been for a cheque that arrived in the post one day reimbursing me for bank interest I’d been incorrectly charged, I’m not sure I’d have done it.
The amount on the cheque pretty much matched one month’s salary for me, so I took it as a sign and made the jump. Today we look after the PR and communication for more than 15 clients across the British Isles and we’re looking forward to celebrating a decade in business next year.
What are you most looking forward to about the IoM Women’s Collective?
I’m so excited about the connections we’re going to create within the network. At a recent event I witnessed an audience member hugging one of our amazing speakers and telling her how incredible she was. That moment summed up why we’ve created the Collective - women supporting women and having each others backs.
If you could share one top tip with the group about being a woman in business, what would it be?
Squash the imposter syndrome and, if you’re struggling to do so, get help. We women have such doubts about ourselves and our capabilities - but more often than not we are wrong. Over the years I’ve come to learn that our self-doubt and imposter syndrome often stems from an experience or even a person from our past and, with the right support and enough time, it is possible to squash those thoughts and rise above.