Ellie Cresswell is director of growth at Bonded Agency, a digital and media agency headquartered in Newcastle.
Cresswell joined the agency in December 2024, bringing over ten years of experience across property, recruitment, and marketing.
From client pitches, driving growth plans to even being the office’s resident Pilates instructor, she shares a recent week in her life with us…
Monday
I kick off the week working from home, starting my day at the gym – my dedicated ‘me time’. Exercise helps me clear any brain fog and sets a positive tone for the day. Back home, I settle into my office, light a candle (please tell me I’m not the only one that prioritises setting the mood!), open my laptop, and enjoy my first coffee of the day: a black americano.
At Bonded, our week begins with a senior team catch-up. It’s a great opportunity to align on client updates, new business prospects, and the week’s priorities. I keep Monday fairly clear to unpack the exciting ideas Steve (our managing director), Renee (our marketing executive), and I brainstormed in last Friday’s sales and marketing 2025 planning session. Keen to organise and prep for actioning these plans.
To stay active in January, we took part in a company-wide steps challenge – a fun way to encourage movement. As the weather wasn’t great, I rolled out my walking pad and clocked up two hours of steps while working. I’m naturally competitive, but with some serious steppers on the team, I’ve got tough competition!
Tuesday
It’s an office day, so I’m out the door early to catch the Metro into town. Our day starts with a 9am meeting to finalise a pitch presentation for an exciting new business opportunity later this week.
Lunchtime rolls around and I meet the owner of Priory Press café to deliver food and their signature spicy health shots for a team session. As part of the wellbeing committee, I co-organised a social value workshop, designed to connect us as a team and ensure we’re purposeful in our charitable efforts this year. It was a great session – the first of three to map out our 2025 strategy.
In the afternoon, Steve and I met with a partner creative agency. It was an energising session, brainstorming ways to support each other’s new business efforts in the coming months.
I rounded off my day with one last check over our pitch presentation for tomorrow, rehearsing the flow and ensuring I’m as confident as I can be.
Wednesday
Another early start, back at the gym to get those endorphins flowing before the big day ahead. I treasure my Metro commute as time to escape into a book, but it’s bittersweet when I’m forced to stop reading just as the plot thickens and a mere couple of pages from the end!
Wednesday was all about a high-stakes new business chemistry session. We teamed up with another creative agency partner for this pitch. They travelled down from Edinburgh to join us in the office for final pitch prep in the morning. We hyped each other up before heading to the client’s impressive office. The meeting went brilliantly – lots of nodding heads and positive energy. Feeling confident, I headed home, eager to finish my book, which delivered some unexpected twists at the end.
Thursday
I’d been looking forward to Thursday. The senior team were joined by Jo Darby, from Voice in the Room, for a day of training on communication and presentation skills. As with all these things, there’s always a bit of apprehension about standing up and role-playing, but it was such a valuable day. We laughed, supported each other, and left with new tools to elevate our impact.
I had to dash off a little early, as outside of my day job, I’m a Pilates instructor. I jumped in the car up the road to Karma Coast in Tynemouth, where I teach every Thursday evening. Teaching Pilates is a huge passion of mine – it’s so rewarding, and my lovely regulars always make my heart warm. It’s the perfect way to round off the day.
Friday
Friday mornings mean gym time – getting my workout done early so I can fully embrace the weekend when it comes.
Arriving at the office, the Friday feeling was infectious. Music was playing, and everyone seemed in great spirits. After a busy week, I had a quieter day: a couple of new business intro calls, admin, catching up on the week/ prepping for the following week, plus a midday stroll along the Quayside to soak up some winter sunshine (and, of course, log more steps!)
Later in the afternoon, I led a 10-minute Pilates stretch session for the team – my little contribution as the office’s resident Pilates instructor. It’s a fun way to break up the day, re-energise, and ease any aches from desk work. They say I bring the shoulder burn, but if only they knew how much I dial it down compared to my full classes!
As the drinks trolley rolled out, I celebrated a successful week with a cheeky can of beer – a great way to toast a week full of energy, collaboration, and growth.
