Inspiring Women: Rochelle Cohen, MD & Founder, Roche Communications

PA Life is celebrating the achievements of women from different walks of life in our series of interviews to mark International Women’s Day on March 8th. The first inspiring women to be quizzed is Rochelle Cohen, Managing Director & Founder, Roche Communications, a PR and marketing agency for hospitality and food and drinks brands. We asked her about her remarkable career and what advice she would share with other women in the marketing industry…

1. What challenges have you faced as a woman in leadership, and how have you overcome them?

The landscape has shifted significantly, and marketing leadership is far less male-dominated than when I first started out 15 years or so ago. Back then all my clients were male but today around half are women. However, there have been moments where I’ve had to work twice as hard to be taken seriously, especially in rooms where decisions are being made by men. I overcame this by being confident, providing well thought-out advice and building strong relationships, regardless of gender.

2. How can the hospitality sector ensure more women progress into top leadership positions?

Hospitality is a demanding industry with long hours which can be a barrier for many women.  To change this, we need to implement stronger mentorship programmes to support women and offer more flexible working policies. If we want to see more women in senior roles, we need to create environments where they don’t have to choose between their career and personal lives. Representation also matters – seeing women in leadership roles will inspire the next generation.

3. How important is mentorship for women aiming for leadership roles?

In my first PR job, I was fortunate to have an incredible director and mentor who showed me what was possible to achieve as a woman in this industry. She encouraged me to succeed, built my confidence and was instrumental in shaping my career. Since setting up Roche Communications over 30 years ago, I’ve had the privilege of working with some inspiring leaders within the hospitality industry. I’d like to shout out to Jillian MacLean OBE of Drake & Morgan. Mentorship is invaluable in providing a support system, a sounding board and springboard for women looking to develop their careers and progress into leadership.

4. What advice you’d give to the next generation of women looking to build a successful career in this industry?

Believe in yourself and follow your gut instinct!

5. What have been your biggest challenges in overseeing and managing such a big team and over 40 client accounts?

Balancing creativity with running a business and mentoring your team is always a challenge.  Clear processes and communication is key but so is delegation – I support my team fully but also know when to step back and trust them to deliver. And, of course, lists, lots of lists – I write everything down and set daily priorities.

6. What would you say is your personal highlight in your career so far and why?

There have been so many highlights, it’s hard to pinpoint one. Launching concepts that became household names; helping brands grow from fledgling businesses to high street chains; building chef profiles from the ground up and seeing my team members develop and flourish. These have all been highly rewarding.

7. Where do you take inspiration from when you start your creative process in creating the next campaign?

It starts with getting under the skin of the brand, what makes it unique and who is the audience? I take inspiration from multiple sources. I read voraciously, from newspapers and magazines to industry publications, reports and trend forecasts. I keep a close eye on social media and what’s happening in the wider world of hospitality. But inspiration also comes from everyday life – ad hoc conversations                                                                                                                     

8. You have a lot of responsibility in your job, how do you unwind and create a healthy work-life-balance for yourself?

That’s still a work in progress. I try to set boundaries for myself and make a conscious effort to switch off but it can be challenging. Unwinding often means sitting down to dinner with my husband and son, listening to their day and detaching from mine.

9. What does the International Women’s Day mean to you?

It’s a day that puts the spotlight on women across all industries and walks of life, celebrating their achievements, ambition, tenacity and resilience. It’s about championing women and showing the next generation that they can achieve anything they set their minds to. As women in leadership, we have a responsibility to use our voice to empower more women to follow their dreams.

 There are many ways to mark and show support to women this International Women’s Day.