Join us as we sit down with Zuzana Sokolova, a Procurement Lead with Hamilton Robson as she takes us through her journey over the past 9 years.
I joined Hamilton Robson in July 2017, based in our London office. At the time, the company was still quite new and small, but the interview process was anything but simple! After two initial interviews, I had a third and final meeting with our CEO, Barry, in a Caffè Nero at Heathrow Airport. I came to the interview with another job offer received from another company, but that conversation with Barry completely changed my direction. There was something about the vision, energy, and ambition of Hamilton Robson that really stood out and it ultimately convinced me to take the leap and join the team.
When I first joined, the team was fewer than ten people across the UK and Ireland, and I was the first female team member. My role wasn’t clearly defined at the start, which made it both challenging and exciting. I quickly became a true all-rounder, supporting project delivery, procurement, finance, HR, recruitment, sales, client meetings, and even hands-on tasks like deliveries. Every day brought something new, and that variety really shaped my early experience and growth within the company.
What kept me at Hamilton Robson in those early years was the incredible variety and the sense that no two days were ever the same. It was a fast-paced, dynamic environment where you were constantly learning and evolving.
The Hamilton Robson leadership team has been incredibly supportive throughout the years, and that was especially evident during more challenging times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, when the company made a conscious effort to protect jobs and support everyone through uncertainty.
That kind of commitment speaks volumes, and has definitely inspired a strong sense of loyalty from myself and others in the business.
One standout memory that always comes to mind is a high-pressure event we were delivering in Dublin, which was being broadcast to thousands of participants. A critical piece of equipment, a Panasonic lens, was delayed by courier and wasn’t going to arrive in time. And we learnt this in the afternoon the day before the event. So immediately I drove across London to collect a replacement lens, and then took the first flight to Dublin early the next morning with it safely in hand.
There was definitely a lot of pressure, as the success of the entire event depended on that lens arriving on time and in perfect condition for an early morning installation. It truly felt like I was carrying something incredibly valuable. Thankfully, everything went smoothly, the lens made it, and the event was a great success. Looking back, it was a challenging but very rewarding experience and a perfect example of the teamwork and dedication that defines Hamilton Robson.
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