Rachel Peacock recalls an emotional moment during the grand re-opening of the Battersea Power Station on October 14th, when the marketing team she’s worked with since the project began gathered for a group hug. “One of them just said ‘we did it’,” she says. “I’ll never forget that moment”. She expects to feel similarly emotional when walking through the carved waharoa gateway at Auckland Airport, hearing birdsong and familiar accents, when she returns for Christmas in New Zealand after three long years away.

As Senior Marketing Manager for the Battersea Power Station regeneration project, Rachel’s high-paced working life in the lead-up to its opening celebration hasn’t left much time for moments of reflection. Rachel is responsible for promoting the relaunched Power Station as a destination for shopping and hospitality, combined with new parks, offices and living spaces directly on the riverfront. The striking shape of the former power station is an iconic landmark on the London skyline, and its 42-acre site is effectively a new London neighbourhood, with a vibrant events calendar and dozens of innovative concept stores by leading brands like Zara, Adidas and MAC. 

The Long Game – How to be a long-term thinker in a short-term world, by Dorie Clark

One of the minor ‘positives’ to come from the death of Queen Elizabeth II on the 8 th September 2022 was the cancellation of the train drivers strike – which meant I was able to travel down from Huntingdon and meet up at Ozone Café in London for a very tasty brunch (with new big brekkie on the menu), and lively conversation with a group of fellow Kiwis. Being in London at this time of national/worldwide grieving was odd and a fair bit of time was given over to our memories of growing up in NZ and appreciation of the life and legacy of our Queen.

That aside, we did put some time to discussing the book. The title and back cover description had me – the ‘long’ game is something I know I’m not good at (much more of a fire-fighter/deal with the ‘now’ kind of girl); but it is an area I need to improve on as Director of a manufacturing business. 

Hi Claire! Can you please tell us when the Coffee and Start Up Inspo club began, and what the idea behind it was? 

The idea for the club came about at the beginning of 2020, when I thought there would be people like me, self-employed and working on their own, who were lacking those water cooler or coffee interactions because they were now at home by themselves. 

Who dials into the online club sessions each week? 

Typically we would have around five women join in each week, from a range of businesses that range in maturity. They’re from all different industries; we have coaches and people who design products, ecommerce companies, people working in media.. All sorts!