Laura Buckenham
Meet Laura Buckenham, former Luckley Head Student from the class of 1996. She is the kind of woman that you never forget – glamourous, confident, charismatic and intellectually humble. We speak over video call, as she lives in Stockholm, Sweden and points to the Baltic Sea, the backdrop to her home office. A roomful of plants and her natural world surroundings provide a sense of calm in Laura’s incredibly busy life. With a boat moored close to home (pointing again at the body of water behind her window), summer months are spent sailing the Stockholm Archipelago, with literally thousands of small islands to explore pristine nature. Laura’s narrative paints the perfect picture.
Her move to Sweden eight years ago is the classic love story. Laura met her Swedish partner while working for a renowned London advertising agency, DDB UK. The two were creative partners; Laura providing the strategic mind and word craft and Daniel delivering the creative ideas and design direction. Together, they produced leading marketing campaigns for Virgin Media – a brand that was on its way up. After years in London, the couple left the intensity of ‘big marketing agency’ life (think television series Mad Men) and headed for the snow, sea and a life closer to nature. Today, they run their own thriving marketing agency, Brand Gym, ensuring their clients’ brands stay relevant and continue to engage their audiences. In just two and a half years, Brand Gym has an enviable client list of Nordic and international brands. Laura could not be prouder of their achievements. Her English A level and subsequent English degree served Laura well. Yet, her creative marketing journey really started when she won a coveted place on a graduate apprenticeship scheme with a reputable advertising agency. The talent nurtured throughout her education was brought to life.
With a notebook always within her clutch, Laura juggles the business, parenting and life as a Swedish citizen, having mastered Swedish at the age of 36. While Swedish was decidedly harder than learning French and German as a Luckley teenager, Laura believes that personal challenge leads to prosperity and fulfillment. So far, so good! We talk of Laura’s continued involvement in Luckley life, supporting Sixth Form students with their practice interviews for university. Laura is kind and steadfast, always finding precious time to help others with no less than a beaming smile upon her face. She cites Luckley’s Sixth Form English teachers, Adrienne Wright and Pam Hobbs, as inspiring her deep love for literature, leading her to read English at the University of Nottingham. Mrs Wright and Laura stay in touch, exchanging news and ideas from time-to-time. Laura puts her hard work ethic, reliable and trustworthy nature down to the values Luckley’s former Headteacher, Mr Blake, instilled in all the girls. Always encouraged to show up, be involved and overdeliver, she sang, acted and spoke publicly – all of which has made her the brave, accomplished and professional I meet today.
Laura is a business owner, mother, partner, keynote speaker and most recently, a new land owner. With a dream to live immersed in nature, she and Daniel are now the owners of a large Swedish countryside plot nestled alongside a lake. With elks roaming the land and a hunter’s lodge dating back to 1803, building works are underway and plans to restore the lodge are in the making. Laura is testament to the belief that our thoughts are the foundation for inspired action. “What you sow, you reap.” And I hear Laura saying, “make sure you have fun along the way”.