6th April 2023
Written on 20th March 2023
Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories
It's opening night; the red carpet is rolled out, talent fills the air and cameras flash as Hollywood icons step out of their limos. You're not alone; hundreds of people have gathered around you with hopes to catch a glimpse of their favorite storytellers—those whose stories impacted their life in one way or another. As a consumer, what you see is the final result—a film, concert, event or TV show that beautifully came to life at the hands of numerous people. What you don't see however, is a million other crucial moments that led you to where you're standing right now.
As an award-winning travel and event management company, TAG isn't just involved on the front-end of sharing impactful stories throughout the world. While managing travel for events, touring, corporate, leisure, investment management and production, our TAG Travel Specialists maneuver past constant challenges to get those involved with the final production where they need to be, and when.
Women's History Month is a perfect time to reflect on the women at TAG who we celebrate all month long. An incredible 66% of all our staff members are female identifying, as well as 42% in leadership and executive roles; these women help all travel logistics seemingly fall into place. Regardless of if they are working with a client travelling to deliver a life-changing presentation or managing travel for an entire production team to get to the set of your favorite TV show, it is because of the help from our TAG Travel Specialists that everyone can confidently have their stories heard across the globe.
Oftentimes, it's easy to see films, TV and videos in the media, without thinking about all of the work that goes on behind the scenes. Great storytelling draws you to look past how something was created, inevitably making those involved in production the unsung heroes.
At TAG, our production department is driven globally by innovative and determined women who make seemingly impossible requests possible. This year, the National Women's History Alliance chose a theme of, "Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories." The theme couldn't be more fitting to recognize these unsung heroes—the women behind the scenes of some of the stories that changed your life.
Alli Pratt
Head of Entertainment Strategy
Briefly explain your role at TAG.
My title is Head of Entertainment Strategy. My job is to identify opportunities for new business and work with our Entertainment BDM/Account Management Team to see how TAG can work on new projects. I also work with existing relationships we have formed, assist with workload distribution and help with training. I do a bit of everything.
What is your proudest achievement to date?
Aside from my two lovely children, a few things come to mind—helping to get TAG off the ground in APAC ten years ago, setting up the production department five years ago and being able to keep our existing employees employed by retraining during COVID. At TAG, we are a big family and we really wanted to make sure everyone was looked after.
We all have someone we look up to; who is a woman that has made a significant impact in your life?
My mum has had the biggest impact on my life. She raised my sister and me, mostly on her own, while holding down a very high positioned job in advertising. She always told us we could do it all. This is true, but you must have a good support system (she had her sisters and I have my husband who is very supportive) and set realistic boundaries. That is not always easy.
How have you seen the world of production change over the years in relation to female involvement?
Working in travel, we are an industry with a high percentage of females, but I find, similar to production, the tippy-top of the pyramid is still pretty male-dominated in both industries.
We have worked on some fabulous female lead productions though, True Spirit, The Wilds and even The Amazing Race was mostly all female—Country Producers, Series Producer, Line Producer and Executive Producer, which was exciting!
What advice would you give to your younger self, entering into the working force?
I think I would tell myself to take a breath, not take things personally and ask questions. We have quite a wholistic approach at TAG for training staff, which I love. We don’t pigeonhole our staff either; instead, we encourage growth. I believe I spent too much time wondering if I could try something; I should have just had a deep breath and taken a leap of faith in myself.
Deanna Williams
Head of Production, UK
Briefly explain your role at TAG.
As the Head of Production UK, my role is making sure my team is happy and that they are delivering the best service to our clients. I oversee that they also bring in new business and maintain the relationships built with existing and longstanding, loyal clients. This includes going on recce trips with producers and negotiating the best deals on their behalf. I also do a lot of networking and liaising with TAG’s suppliers.
What is your proudest achievement to date?
When I started at TAG five years ago, there was no production team. My task was to build a successful division and I can proudly say I have done just that, while leading an amazing team to work hard alongside me.
We all have someone we look up to; who is a woman that has made a significant impact in your life?
I would say my grandma; she brought up my father and his two brothers on her own after losing her husband at 32 years old. She was very strong and independent, and she was like a second mother to me. My grandma was heavily involved in my upbringing whilst my parents worked hard. She was always instilling into me to work hard, treat people with the utmost respect, be honest and never to be late for anything; I can honestly say I took every bit of this advice to heart and utilise it daily.
How have you seen the world of production change over the years in relation to female involvement?
In the 34 years I have being doing my job, I would say that female directors/writers/producers are limited; however, since COVID began I have seen an increase in female involvement.
What advice would you give to your younger self, entering into the working force?
Take every opportunity that you are given. Work hard, be committed, focused and patient.
Lorraine Greig
Director of Operations, US
Briefly explain your role at TAG.
As a Director of Operations, I am responsible for business development and oversee production travel in the US.
What is your proudest achievement to date?
On a personal level, I am extremely proud of the time I packed up my life in my mid-30s and moved from Vancouver to Los Angeles.
We all have someone we look up to; who is a woman that has made a significant impact in your life?
The most influential woman in my life is one of my best friends, Beverly Doran.
How have you seen the world of production change over the years in relation to female involvement?
Whilst not there yet, we do see the population of women continue to grow in production.
What advice would you give to your younger self, entering into the working force?
Always believe in yourself!
Mandy Armstrong
Team Leader, Production
Briefly explain your role at TAG.
As a Team Leader in the production department, my role is to manage an awesome force of extraordinary people, while they move and accommodate our most cherished film clients around the country and the world.
What is your proudest achievement to date?
Roller skating backwards at 13 years old immediately comes to mind as well as living in the wild and wondrous Kimberley in my twenties. Being a mum is full of proud moments as well. However, on a professional note, I think it was enduring COVID.
The logistics of moving people when people were at their most vulnerable—travelling via different countries to get here or home, navigating constantly changing border crossing regulations, responding to outbreaks on sets, setting up isolation hotels—the whole catastrophe! In the end, it was all about working alongside amazing people in the industry.
I’m also really proud and extremely grateful that many of my trusted clients in the entertainment industry, from all over the world, still come to me for advice and assistance. Some of these relationships are 20+ years in the making.
We all have someone we look up to; who is a woman that has made a significant impact in your life?
Trish Hansen is an amazing woman. She’s incredibly resilient and has the highest integrity and loyalty; her respectfulness and care for others is inspiring.
After surviving an ambitious breast tumor, she’s made up her own job making a real difference in the world, set up a charity for disadvantaged kids to participate in the arts and is now writing really funny children's fiction about really serious things. She lives entirely in service to the only future she believes in—one of trust, kindness, care and love.
Most importantly, she’s “word perfect” on Monty Python’s early work and an excellent backwards roller skater—she also just happens to be my little sister.
How have you seen the world of production change over the years in relation to female involvement?
The travel industry has always been predominantly a female vocation; however, the production industry not so much. Recently though, especially in the past few years, it’s been great to see more female producer and director names in my emails and across my screen—as well as them earning the recognition from the industry that they truly deserve.
What advice would you give to your younger self, entering into the working force?
Trust your gut.
You’ve evolved over billions of years to a creature with intuition—respect it.
