Lily Spencer – Winning of the MRG Rising Star Award 2020

It was a great night at the 2020 MRG Awards, with our very own data queen Lily Spencer winning the Rising Star Award. Since joining Tapestry just 3 years ago, her focus, confidence, and ‘unflappable-ness’ sets a great example for what all researchers should aspire to be. She has a great talent for statistics (getting a first class degree and everything) but added to this, she has the unique ability to make the most complex subjects sound simple, making her invaluable to both us and our clients.

She thought with it being a virtual awards ceremony, she’d avoid the awkward acceptance speech, so instead we spoke to her about what got her to where she is today.

Q: How did you end up working at Tapestry?

After finishing uni I was faced with trying to decide which industry I wanted to work in (as I had decided I didn’t want to work in finance like most of my course mates!). Amongst a sea of academic roles I saw the ad for Tapestry and haven’t looked back since. From the first phone interview I knew it was somewhere I was going to fit in both work wise and socially!

Q: What has been your most memorable career experience so far?

At our first away day we had to come up with things that would improve the company in the long run and have an idea of what this would cost, as a joke I said that it would be a trip to our New York office and because of this ended up getting to go there for a week!

Q: What is the best thing about working at Tapestry?

Definitely the people, we have a very good culture, the right mix of serious and fun, where you get to work and joke with everyone of all levels. It’s an incredibly supportive environment as well as being very fun and social!

Q: What do you wish someone had told you at the start of your career?

That you don’t have to know how to do everything or all the market research acronyms from day 1! People are incredibly open to helping you even if you ask the same question multiple times and suddenly it all becomes second nature.

Q: What’s next?!

World domination?! Hoping to carry on progressing within the industry and working with clients both new and old and (trying!) to make the complex maths more understandable!