This month, we’re raising a toast to Amy Ahmed-Dolphin, our Senior Account Director and Head of ESG Communications, as she marks an incredible 10 years with Whistle PR.
Over the past decade, Amy has become a cornerstone of our team, bringing strategic insight, creative flair, and an unwavering commitment to purpose-driven communications. She’s been instrumental in shaping Whistle’s ESG offering, helping our clients communicate their sustainability ambitions with authenticity and impact.
To celebrate this milestone, we sat down with Amy to reflect on her journey, her proudest moments, and what continues to drive her passion for PR.
Q&A with Amy…
Why did you want to get into the world of comms and PR?
I left university wanting to get into PR and I’m ashamed to say the reason for this was the 90s sitcom Absolutely Fabulous. I was smitten by the idea of the people and pazazz, the schmoozing and the champagne… and life being altogether ‘fabulous, sweetie.’ I still have a picture of Eddie and Patsy on my desk – although my day to day has never been quite like the world of Monsoon PR!
Funnily enough, life took me down a different path and I didn’t find my way into PR until about 10 years later. What ultimately drew me in was working in an industry centred around building relationships, whether with clients, partners, media.
What is the favourite part of your role here at Whistle?
It has to be the people – both in our team and the clients we work with. There’s a real sense of camaraderie, and I love the buzz of collaboration… especially when your client truly sees you as an extension of their team. You also can’t beat that moment when you see something land in the press after weeks of planning or a plucky bit of news-jacking.
What’s one campaign or moment from your 10 years at Whistle that you’ll never forget and why?
It was a thrill, one year in as a Whistler, to win Gold for Best Integrated Campaign at the Midlands PRide Awards. This was for our 60th anniversary campaign – Gardens Through The Ages – for domestic hard landscaping manufacturer Bradstone. It was a proud moment to be standing up on the stage with the rest of the account team.
From your perspective, how have you seen the PR industry evolve over the past decade, and how has that impacted your role?
PR has become much more integrated and multi-channel. When I started out, media relations was the core – and I would have been lost without my Rolodex of press contacts on my desk. But now, it’s about telling stories across platforms – from social to influencer, owned content to paid. It means we’ve had to upskill, become more agile and take a much more strategic, audience-first approach to everything we do. Personally, it’s kept me on my toes and challenged me to keep on learning and thinking bigger.
What will keep you motivated 10 years down the line?
Curiosity and purpose. The comms landscape is always shifting, and I love learning how to stay ahead of the curve. There’s never a dull day in PR – and that constant energy keeps me interested. In a previous role, I used to have what I called the ‘witching hour’ – that daily 2-3pm slump after the morning tasks were blitzed and the lull kicked in. It killed me. Hand on heart, I’ve never been bored in PR. As long as I’m curious, developing and feeling stretched, it’s all good. But just as important is knowing I’m bringing value – to Whistle, to our people, and to our clients – and that the work is bringing value back into my life too. That balance of growth and impact is what will keep me going for the next decade.
What’s one lesson you’ve learned in the past decade that you wish you knew earlier in your career?
You don’t have to have all the answers. There’s real strength in asking questions, listening and learning from others. Even later in my career, I’ve never been afraid to admit to junior team members if I don’t know something. I actually think it’s important to show a bit of vulnerability as a leader – it makes the relationship more supportive and real, and it fosters stronger collaboration across the team. It might be tempting to make out like I know everything (imposter syndrome and all that) – but collaboration has served me far better.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting in PR, what would it be?
Speak up. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, confused, demotivated – say something. No one expects you to know everything straightaway and hiding how you’re feeling only makes it harder. And we can all make mistakes – always best to own it and alert the team while things can still be remedied. Some of the best growth comes from honest conversations. PR can be fast-paced and intense, so it’s important to ask for help when you need it. Mental wellbeing is vitally important in this sector – protecting your headspace is essential.
What qualities do you think helped you thrive in such a fast-paced industry for the last decade?
An inquisitive mind and a thirst to learn have definitely kept me going. Resilience is something I’ve had to work really hard at – it hasn’t come naturally at all. I’m a Taurus, I’m a sensitive soul, and I do take things personally. I care deeply about doing a good job and it genuinely affects me if I let someone down or miss a deadline. But over time, I’ve learned how to manage that emotional intensity in a way that fuels me rather than drains me.
In your next 10 years at Whistle, what do you hope to achieve?
I’d love to play a bigger role in shaping the direction of the agency. But more than that, I want to evolve my leadership style. That means protecting time for high-impact thinking, being laser-focused on where I can add the most value and enriching our people’s personal development. And yes, I still dream of a beautifully ticked-off to-do list and a blissfully empty inbox … but if I can accomplish the leadership part, that’ll be the real win.
And finally, if your 10-year journey at Whistle were a headline, what would it be?
Never a Dull Day: Dolphin’s Decade of Laughter, Learning and Leaping In.
Here’s to the next 10 years! Connect with Amy on LinkedIn here!
