From the time she was born, Naomi Walkland was inspired by her mother to have big dreams and to know that anything is possible. Crediting her mother — an Author and CEO of her own consultancy agency — as “the definition of hard work, perseverance, and resilience”, Walkland has strived to emulate those values throughout her own life and career.
Today, Naomi Walkland is doing just that as the Associate Director of the EMEA Market at Bumble. With 50 million users, the dating app empowers women to make the first move while promoting kindness, respect, and equality — Walkland even met her own husband on the platform. In 2017, Walkland founded of ‘The Power of Quitting’, an international panel series, discussing different issues women face in their careers and most importantly, celebrating the extraordinary work of women.
How have you evolved since twenty?
I am still ambitious and driven, but I’m definitely not as big a party animal as I used to be. I’ve also learned to be more patient. When I was younger, I was always trying to get to achieve the next thing whether that was a grade, internship, or promotion. I didn’t allow my time to just enjoy the journey or give myself credit for what I had achieved.
On working for Bumble
I lead the EMEA wide marketing function and team. I am responsible for leading Bumble's brand marketing and go-to-market strategies and execution for new market launches in the region.
My values align completely and it was the reason why I have always wanted to work at Bumble. Bumble’s core mission and values are to empower women to make the first move in every aspect of your life whether dating, friendship, and business.
On founding ‘The Power of Quitting’
With a passion for empowering others to build careers with a sense of purpose, I founded the international sell-out panel series ‘The Power of Quitting', which includes a stellar panel of influential women from across the world and has a community in the thousands with events in London, New York, and Berlin.
The Power of Quitting is dedicated to sharing stories of extraordinary professionals, brands, and businesses. During the panels, we explore how smart women pivot, embrace change, and lean into their strengths to build a successful career with a sense of purpose.
On managing a work/life balance
Discipline is essential to maintaining balance, and is the center of my life. For example, I wake up every morning at 6:00 and go to the gym–exercise is so important when working for a fast paced business. I have also adopted a predominantly plant based diet, this is not for everyone, but it’s worked for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I also rarely drink alcohol. I need to keep focused and can’t afford to have a fuzzy head. From a work perspective, I am disciplined in my time–when I have deadlines, I block time to focus on that particular task and avoid using my phone and checking emails.
What advice would you give to yourself at twenty?
Two things:
A quote from Oprah - “Your job is not who you are, it's just what you're doing on the way to who you will become.” There were times in the early stages of my career that I wondered how my entry level jobs were going to lead to be achieving my great big dreams, and I let many of my roles define me rather than see them as a “bus stop” on the long journey.
A quote from Eleanor Roosevelt, “Remember, no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” This is so important, particularly in your twenties where you really are discovering yourself. It’s important to know that no one can knock you down without you giving them permission to do.
And a practical one - save, save, save!
What would you say to a twenty-something year old about finding her place in the world?
Firstly, don’t compare yourself to others. It can be very easy to lose yourself in the world through comparison. Secondly, have a vision and set yourself goals to ensure you’re keeping on track. Thirdly, I’m a big believer in mentorship, find a mentor or coach who can help you navigate life and your career.