Wishing you a Merry Christmas from all of us here at The Digital Voice™! The very special holiday episode of our podcast Off Record, On Point “The Secret to Surviving the Holidays” is out now, ready to get you in the holiday spirit and accompany you when you’re driving home for Christmas this year!

This month’s joy-filled episode guest stars our wonderful team leads, Nicole, Camealia, Mary and Cameron, as we deep dive into our personal Christmas traditions and experiences. It’s been such an action-packed and exciting year for us with more to celebrate than we can sum up in a blog post, and it’s proved more than ever that our brilliant team and workplace culture are the fuel that keeps The Digital Voice™ cogs turning. We’re ready for a well-earned rest over the next couple of weeks (and we’re sure you are too) but there’s always time for a little Christmas fun at this time of year… 

What better way to round out the year than a Christmas Q&A with our amazing dream team?

What was your most stand-out moment from 2022?

“Too many to decide for 2022. Highlights of the year for me are welcoming new team members and seeing so many clients in person at Cannes, DMEXCO and MAD//fest.”

– Kasey Long, PR and Communications Director

“MADFest this year when we had most of the team together in London, and many were meeting for the first time in person. Our team is so close knit and the remote element only makes us work harder at being a truly united team. Meeting in person was the icing on the cake and so lovely to see most of our incredible team in person.”

– Julia Linehan, Founder and CEO

“Being part of the MADFest event in July, representing the TDV team (and having unlimited food options!), and also our summer TDV lunch. Both times I got to meet some of the team in person, which is becoming more valuable these days, as we adapt to remote working.”

– Hazel Broadley, Content Writer

“WOW so many! Becoming a team lead of two wonderful teams was a personal achievement - but really in 2022 having the team expand so much was a highlight! It's so great being able to share everything with the team.”

– Cameron Townsley, Creative and Events Manager

What's your best survival tip for the winter months?

“Vitamin D3, hot chocolate, thick socks, lots of food!”

– Eva Leharova, Senior Client Services Executive

“Create a cosy environment! Warm lit lamps and fairy lights, stocking up on nice things to eat and drink, warm clothes that make you feel good - whatever gives you that snuggly, smiley feeling on a dark, gloomy day or evening.”

– Rowan Lee-Foyster, Graphic Designer and Illustrator

“Get yourself out in the fresh air (even if it is FREEZING), it's good for your mental health in these cold, dark, winter months!”

– Amber O’Neill, Senior Social and Content Writer

“Hot Turkish coffee, a good book, my sparkling Christmas tree and a gossip time with best friends!”

– Jelena Zoric, Brand Storyteller

“Invest in a good warm coat for winter walks and lots of chunky knit jumpers.”

– Akinyi Odhiambo, Senior Events Executive

What's the key to having very happy holidays?

“Spend as much time as you can with your parents and family as they won't be here for long… Also give yourself some time to relax and reflect and learn from lessons/hard moments that hit you in 2022 without being hard on yourself.”

– Jelena Zoric, Brand Storyteller

“Focus on the little things and don’t get hung up on making the holidays perfect. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the stress of the season, but it’s friends, family, and spending time together we should all treasure. And plenty of tacky Christmas songs!”

– Ren Bowman, Senior Marketing and Multimedia Producer

“Not waiting for other people to bring the festivities! Watch your films, make plans, invite people for mulled wine, go for a festive light walk, get a nice smelling candle. From a family that doesn't go over the top for Christmas, I have learnt to bring 110% for myself and do the things I fancy!”

– Cameron Townsley, Creative and Events Manager

“I'd say that every opportunity to realise how lucky you are should be taken! I think there's a lot of things to be grateful for all year round, but during the holidays you can really realise what you have (amazing family, friends, everyone coming together), and how rich you are in those aspects.”

– Rosie Hutchinson, Senior Events and Content Executive

Share a funny or happy Christmas/Holiday memory!

“Building a gingerbread house with my nephew while the other adults are setting up the table, there's always some chaos going on but it's okay because it's festive and Christmassy!”

– Eva Leharova, Senior Client Services Executive

“My partner proposed to me last Christmas Day! And it was our first Christmas in our new home - very special!”

– Rowan Lee-Foyster, Graphic Designer and Illustrator

“Waking my parents up every Christmas morning at 3am, 4am, 5am, and 6am to ask if Santa has been. I must have done that at least for 10 years in a row.”

– Zoe Castellano, Graphic Design Lead

“Once I had a Christmas song competition with my whole family. My mum, dad, brother and myself did a remix to Last Christmas (we won ofc!)”

– Amber O’Neill, Senior Social and Content Writer

What are you grateful for this holiday season?

“What a year it has been! Personally and professionally, my best year ever. My cup is honestly very full and I feel so grateful to be surrounded by exceptional people in my home and my work life. What my team at The Digital Voice™ has achieved this year is astonishing and makes me so bloody proud. I am beyond grateful for them all every day.”

– Julia Linehan, Founder and CEO

“I am grateful for the people I know and the opportunities I have been granted!”

– Faith Ilori, Marketing and Analytics Executive

“In the current socio-economic climate, just living in a country where I have enough work to pay the bills and keep the children fed and warm is very important right now.”

– Hazel Broadley, Content Writer

“I am grateful for my family.  The past 2 years our house has been isolated due to the pandemic and thanks to my husband and daughters, it has still managed to be most magical, but this year we will have a bigger family gathering, just like old times!”

– Camealia Xavier-Chihota, Marketing Lead

What are you giving back this holiday season?

“Giving family and friends more attention and consideration. Checking in on them!”

– Nicole Kotseva, Social Media Lead

“Each Christmas I try and volunteer at a homeless shelter for Crisis so that the 'guests' (as we call them) can spend Christmas in a warm bed, take a shower, get new clothes, do arts and crafts and get access to services (opticians, dentists, podiatrist etc). They also love karaoke.”

– Akinyi Odhiambo, Senior Events Executive

“This year, I am volunteering for Medway Culture Club.  We will make Christmas cards with the children to give to a people in local residential home which will hopefully spread some Christmas cheer!”

– Camealia Xavier-Chihota, Marketing Lead

“Making a lot of effort to be organised and prepared with cards and presents, to ensure my messages and gifts are really thoughtful and will make people smile.”

– Rosie Hutchinson, Senior Events and Content Executive

How are you getting ready for 2023?

“My resolution for 2023 is to stay as strong as a team as we are now! Stay positive and organised going into the new year ready to take on anything that comes our way.”

– Kasey Long, PR and Communications Director

“2023 is miles in the future! I've got plenty of time to think about that...Yikes! Its only 40 days! I better think of something!”

– Zoe Castellano, Graphic Design Lead

“Learn to stop worrying and enjoy my young years!”

– Faith Ilori, Marketing and Analytics Executive

“I hope to have more clarity on what I wish to achieve in the years ahead and spending more time feeding my creativity.”

– Nicole Kotseva, Social Media Lead

We hope you have a wonderful holiday season and some well-earned rest, whatever you’re up to over the next few weeks! The Digital Voice™ will be back at our desks and ready to take on 2023 with our endless energy on Tuesday 3rd of January at 7 am.

Feeling that holiday spirit? You can listen to our full Christmas extravaganza with our team leads on Off Record, On Point Episode 4: “The Secret to Surviving the Holidays”!