The opportunity to work for your parents in a professional capacity is rare, unique, and, if I’m being honest, quite an odd experience. I work here, at Kids Industries, with my mum Jen and my dad, Gary. For as long as I can remember, KI has been a huge part of my life (it’s literally older than me), and I’ve had a variety of roles since I was about four years old.
My KI journey began on the ‘Junior Board’, where I tested toys and took part in research groups. I had a “career break” between the ages of 4 - 17 to pursue my education, and then, I started work as an Office Junior, gaining a more professional understanding of how the company operated. My role was to help make sure the day-to-day running of the office went smoothly.
Before starting university in 2022, I took on a full-time role as a Junior Account Manager, which was a major step up from my previous work. I was responsible for assisting KI team members and clients in ensuring the seamless execution of projects and internal operations.
This meant being in the office every week working in close proximity to my parents, most days. I was nervous! Anyone who knows my parents will be familiar with their big personalities and deep passion for the industry. As well as my dad’s ability to embarrass me. I had many concerns as a teenager going into the office and working in a professional capacity with my parents, but I can honestly say that my experience has been really positive and that my dad has given me the space to develop professionally and grow (with an acceptable amount of taunting). While my role has changed significantly now that I’m 21, my current role is Project Manager, I can still say that I love being part of the company although my job isn’t quite as easy or as fun as it was when I was four! A different type of fun, let's say.
At first, working for my parents was intimidating, mainly because I wanted to prove how hard I could work. There was an increased sense of accountability and responsibility, knowing how important KI is to my family. However, KI has a rare workplace culture where colleagues form strong social relationships and become friends, which made joining the office as ‘Gary and Jen’s daughter’ far less daunting than I had expected. Today, while I still feel that heightened sense of accountability, I am extremely comfortable working at KI. That said, when I first joined at 17, I was by far the youngest in the office, which felt overwhelming at times. Over the past year, while home from university in Spain, I’ve had the chance to go into the office and connect with my colleagues more than ever before.
The main thing I’ve taken away from working for my parents is a deep appreciation for how hard they and the entire KI team work, as well as the supportive environment they have built. This experience has also helped shape my own career aspirations. I’ve really enjoyed the organisational side of my role, ensuring that projects stay on track and that tasks and deliverables are completed, which has strengthened my desire to work in this field. Working at KI has confirmed that I definitely want to be part of the business world or an agency similar to KI, where projects are delivered with passion and dedication. Working with my parents has helped shape a clearer picture of what I want to do in the future and I’m super grateful to have this opportunity to learn from them.
