Bath Lives - Linda Donaldson

PR guru Linda Donaldson, took 10 minutes out of her busy schedule to sit down and chat business with TGtB. From how she conquered the work-life balance to the challenges she?s faced running one of largest PR agencies in the South West, Linda opened up about her successful career.

Where is home and why?

Bath has been my home for 16 years. It is a beautiful city and a very safe environment to bring up children.  I like the fact it has easy access to airports and into London and it is also not too far away from the coast to have a decent day trip.

What inspired you to set up your business here?

I originally set my business up temporarily in Bristol as I was offered a space in a shared office.  But I took the decision to relocate the business to Bath a couple of years ago having found central office premises at a good rate and also I really wanted to get to know the close-knit local business community.  I have always felt it is better to be located in places where you want to do business and so far I have been proved right with our move to Bath.

What are your professional goals?

To continue to grow the business organically and maintain our reputation for being a first class agency that provides its clients with a second to none service. 

I am not content with ‘servicing’ clients, the team must be delighting them, showing them why we are an award winning consultancy by bringing new ideas to the table and going beyond the basic PR requirements.

Did anyone try to discourage you from setting up your own business?

No quite the opposite. I come from a family of self starters both my mother and father set up and managed their own small businesses successfully for many years. They were encouraging when I mentioned it even although they were fully aware of the financial risk and the personal sacrifices you need to make in those start up years.

What advice would you give anyone looking to do the same?

Running your own business is all about having the right attitude and positive frame of mind.  Enthusiasm breeds confidence and wins you business.  Be prepared for the knock backs but remember what does not kill you makes you stronger.

What do you think attracts business people to Bath?

I would say the diversity of established businesses here already and possibly about lifestyle.

If you could do it all again, would you do anything differently?

Possibly, but as I can’t do it all again I am focusing on the changes I need to make as I take the business forward.

How do you like to spend your time off?

I am an outdoors person, I like walking but I am mostly into my road cycling.  I also enjoy running around parks and up hills generally tiring out my three children. 

Your phone book must be full of business contacts, but who is the most famous person in there?

That depends on who you consider famous.  I have Jenny Agutter Greta Scacchi and Nigel Havers contacts as they are patrons of a charity we have been involved in promoting.   

What has been your biggest achievement to date?

That is a hard one - running a profitable business for the last 11 years while juggling three children has been a pretty reasonable achievement.