Company: Reading Room, London, United Kingdom
Company Description: Reading Room is an international award winning Forrester Wave™ Top 10 digital business that delivers excellence in client user experience upon leading web technology platforms since 1996. Ranked Number 1 in the You Gov Independent Agency Reputation survey 2010 Reading Room is headquartered in London with offices in Manchester, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore and Hong Kon
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Female Entrepreneur of the Year – Business Services –11 to 2,500 Employees

Nomination Title: Margaret Manning, CEO

Describe for the judges the activities and accomplishments of the nominated entrepreneur since the beginning of July last year (up to 500 words):

Since July 2011 Margaret Manning, founder and CEO has led Reading Room through a period of very high growth in all territories, but particularly in Asia and Australia. Margaret recognised that the downturn in Europe had the potential to be long-lasting and therefore looked overseas and particularly towards Asia for growth opportunities.

As a SME with 150 staff this was quite some challenge and one that Margaret and her team tackled with energy and panache.

In order to boost the growth potential in completely new territories Margaret got herself numerous speaking opportunities, one of which resulted in an introduction to the Media Development Authority of Singapore who sponsored her and Reading Room’s initial visits to Singapore. She also was invited to be a member of an elite group of 100 export ambassadors for the British Government, again a valuable way of opening doors.

It was through massive amounts of hard work, much flying around, a ton of speaking opportunities and a fabulous team that has set Reading Room’s trajectory for growth.

Since July 2011 offices have been set up in Brisbane, Melbourne, Singapore and Hong Kong and the growth has been beyond the wildest expectations of the team.

300% turnover growth across Asia Pacific in one year From 2 to 30 staff in Singapore in one year

Working for clients as far afield as Washington D.C., South Africa and Russia. Clients as diverse as HRH the Prince of Wales, Ferrarri and Living Oceans Foundation

Reading Room is a digital consultancy providing business services which is ranked in the top 10 international digital agencies by the IMA, is number 1 digital agency in the UK (Marketing Magazines Agency survey 201 and Number 1 in the RAR Design Review 2011. With 240 staff we have offices in London and Manchester in the UK; and Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney in Australia and Singapore and Hong Kong.

Margaret is one of very few female CEOs in the largely male-dominated digital industry. Margaret won the Female Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2008 based not only on her entrepreneurial ability but also because “She works tirelessly to support others in the industry and to champion women in business.” She is passionate about business and actively encourages other women to achieve greater things. Of her 5 company directors 4 of them are women.

In 2011, Margaret appeared in a TV show which saw her mentor an under-achieving girl in her teens and demonstrate how women can inspire other women. The rapid growth has not been at the expense of great work. The team is multi- award winning globally.

•Singapore Winner of Creative Design
•Stevies Gold Award - Lewis Silkinwebsite
•European No.1 Digital Agency 2011

This summer, Margaret’s achievements were further recognised at the Best CIO Awards in Singapore, where she took home the top prize for Women in IT Leadership. The awards provide the foundation to the IT industry to showcase and celebrate Innovation and Leadership and are a highly regarded accolade in business.

Provide a brief biography of the nominated entrepreneur (up to 100 words):

Margaret Manning is founder and CEO of Reading Room, a Top 10 Global Agency (IMA awards 2012) and Number 1 for digital (Marketing Week 2011). With 250 staff, Reading Room has offices in the UK, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong Margaret was honoured at the Best CIO Awards for IT Leadership in 2012, and named one of the top 50 media people to watch in the “Courvoisier Future 500” in the Observer. She loves her work, adores her family and feels very lucky to have such a great team around her.