Tell me your job title and what you do?

Finance Director.
I’m exceptionally lucky to have the most amazing Finance Manager in Karen Lillycrop, who’s
been by my side since we were 16. We’ve worked together across three companies now,
and honestly, I’d be lost without her. Thanks to Karen keeping the financial side of
Ghostwriter ticking like a Swiss watch, I get to side-step into the exciting stuff, like leading
the build of Gig Lab!

Tell us about your background and how you came to join Ghostwriter?

I started going to gigs at 14 and never really stopped. At 16, I did work experience selling
tickets at Newcastle Arena, and that was it, I was hooked. I worked my way through the
industry with roles at Live Nation, Academy Music Group, Mama Group, and VMS Live,
across multiple venues and cities.

Then came a detour into TV, where I worked for Nickelodeon pre-pandemic. It was great fun;
all orange carpets and SpongeBob SquarePants meeting rooms (which I can highly
recommend!).

When the opportunity came to build Ghostwriter with Carl, Gemma and Richard, I jumped in
head first. We all had different experiences but a shared vision, and I could see we had the
potential to create something genuinely special.

Walk us through a day in your life? How many coffees, calls, and crazy moments feature in your every day?

Every day is different, and usually a bit chaotic! The only real constant is that it starts early
(very small children) and ends late (still the very small children, and ex-DJ partner!).
Somewhere in between there’s a lot of coffee, a lot of spreadsheets, a lot of calls, and
probably one crisis that no one else knew was a crisis until it was solved. Honestly, carbs
and adrenaline keep me going. No two days are ever the same, but I wouldn't have it any
other way.

What’s your role at Ghostwriter and how does it contribute to making events run
smoothly (even when no one sees it)?

I’m the doomsdayer, the one planning for worst-case scenarios so things run as best as they
possibly can. I don’t know if that comes with being in finance or if it’s just years of event
experience and co-founding a business six months before a global pandemic. Either way, I
take pride in how we operate: agents know their artists will be paid, freelancers don’t have to
chase us for payments. We’re dependable, and that really matters in this industry.

What skill or quality does someone in your role need to have to succeed?

Resilience, and zero ego about being “the nag.”

I didn’t come into finance through a traditional route. I worked my way up in venues, then
moved into finance when office hours made more sense for me for family life. That shift gave
me a unique perspective, I understand how stressful it is when you’re on the ground waiting
on a payment or an answer.

Now, my role is to be the calm in the chaos. To spot what’s coming before it hits. And yes,
that often means chasing people… again and again. (Spoiler: I will chase. Every time.) It’s
not personal, it’s just how things get done. Being dependable matters, especially in this
industry.

What’s one thing most people don’t realise about what your job actually involves?

There’s the day-to-day, and then there’s the weight of being a co-owner. Knowing that
people’s livelihoods, their mortgages, their rent, their wellbeing, are tied to the decisions you
make. That’s a huge responsibility, and I carry it with me all the time.

What was the one moment when you knew you had to work in live music or events?

I was 14, watching New Found Glory in Newcastle, completely squashed, completely
overwhelmed, but completely sure I’d found my place. There was just something about the
feeling in that room. I didn’t know what my role would be, but I knew I had to be part of it.

What’s your all-time favourite show or event you’ve worked on?

Stereophonics at Wrexham Racecourse Stadium. (I definitely didn’t feel it at the time
though!) First live gig there in 35 years, and we turned it around in just six months. The
imposter syndrome was off the charts, and this was before the Ryan Reynolds glow-up, so
the venue had its… quirks. But Wrexham needed something to rally behind, and we
delivered it. The pride in that moment was unreal.

If you could swap jobs with anyone on the team for a day, who would it be and
why?

I used to think I wanted Carl’s job; turn up before doors, have a beer, watch the gig. Looked
like the dream! But now I know the reality; the stress, the constant hustle, the deals that fall
through last minute. I am far too impatient and neurotic for that!
But that’s what I love about Ghostwriter, we’ve built a space where no matter what your role
in the company, you can pitch something like Gig Lab, and if the directors see your vision,
you’re trusted to make it happen. No corporate safety nets, just belief in each other. So I kind
of already have my dream job… but it didn’t come easy!

What’s the most unexpected skill you've gained from working in live music and
events?

A sixth sense for when something’s about to go wrong, and the ability to smile through it
while frantically fixing it behind the scenes. Also, being able to do complex budgets with zero
sleep and a toddler yelling “STICK MAN!” in the background is a skill I never knew I’d
master.

What do you love most about your job?

The freedom to create. Whether it’s launching a whole new software system, or finding the
fix to a problem no one else has clocked yet, I love that we’re a company that says yes to
ideas and trusts people to follow them through. Also, my team. Genuinely. They’re the best.
And the food (always work without people who share your side-passion, even if that’s carbs
and calories!)

What’s your proudest moment on the job so far?

I’m going to be greedy here, there’s just too much to be proud of to pick just one!
Raising over £8 million in grant funding for independent and grassroots organisations during
the pandemic is right up there. It felt like we genuinely made a difference when people
needed it most.

Jess Glynne at Newcastle Racecourse, our first event after the lockdowns, was another big
one. I had a little cry! It felt like a milestone for the whole team, and there was just a relief
that things might return to “normal” again at some point.

Winning the Women in Innovation award from Innovate UK was massive, not just because it
was such a competitive process, but because it meant other people believed in what we
were building with Gig Lab. That recognition meant the world.

And winning Start-Up of the Year at Thinking Digital, that one hit differently. Pitching is way
out of my comfort zone, like, different-hemisphere, but I learned fast, put on my big girl
pants, and did it for the good of what we’re building. I don’t often let myself feel proud, very
British that way, but I was proud of that.

If I had to pick just one moment though, it would be this; building Ghostwriter from scratch,
through a pandemic, with two small kids in tow, and still being here. Still growing. Still
creating. Every time someone says, “I’ve heard great things about you guys,” I can’t tell you
how much that means. It makes it all worth it.

If your job had a theme song, what would it be and why?

“Who Run the World (Girls)” Beyoncé.
There’s a lot of oestrogen in Ghostwriter, and we’re proud of it! It’s not the easiest industry to
be female in, but I think we’re showing what’s possible when you lead with confidence,
compassion, and capability.

I love seeing other female-led companies smashing it too; like Far & Beyond and Ginger
Owl. They’re hugely inspiring.

Massive love as well to the non-Ghostwriter girls, who’ve never made it feel like gender
impacts ability, while always respecting our need to shout about it, because shouting is still
needed if we want real, lasting change.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to get into your line of work?

Don’t be afraid to start at the bottom, every job teaches you something. Say yes to things
that scare you a little. Learn the systems, but don’t be afraid to question them. Be the person
people can rely on.

Also, remember this, a bit of advice inspired by Nora Ephron. Your career, your relationships,
your health, your family, your sanity, they’re all balls you’re juggling. Some are made of
rubber and will bounce if dropped. But some are made of glass. Try and recognise the
difference. Know when you genuinely need to send that last email, and when it’s time to shut
the laptop and go cuddle your kid.