If you’ve ever wanted a career in fashion, Angela Briggs is the woman you need on speed dial. She’s the CEO of UMENCO, Australia's leading HR, headhunting and career coaching agency, connecting fashion and lifestyle brands with talent across the globe. When she's not running a global company, she's a mother to 16-year-old Thomas, who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder when he was three-years-old. Here, she shares what that diagnosis meant for their family, and how her work and home life will always be intertwined.

Ask Angela Briggs what UMENCO’s mission is, and she’ll tell you the company is “committed to making career dreams come true, and for people and brands to curate a career and business they’re really proud of.” She also points out what given how much time we spend at work, it’s pivotal that we really like what we do for a living. “There’s such great positivity from being fulfilled at work and doing great work and having financial rewards there, and a sense of accomplishment,” she says. Angela is also a mother to 16-year-old Thomas who was diagnosed very early on with low-functioning autism and an intellectual disability, both lifelong conditions. She’s passionate about spreading awareness of autism, and works closely with Giant Steps , an Australian school which her son attends that aims to provide a rich and meaningful education to children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Here, we share a deeply personal interview with Angela, looking not only at her stellar career but how she’s created a meaningful and rewarding life with her son. Your son Thomas is now 16, what were those early days of motherhood like for you? Thomas and I have always shared a really beautiful bond, and I love him, however those early days were challenging. From very early on I sensed there was something potentially different about Thomas. I was absolutely in awe and enthralled with him, but I also had a deep concern for him. I remember feeling like I wasn’t doing things right and that maybe I was letting him down, and trying to overcompensate in other ways as well. At the same time, it was also the most incredible time. I loved going for walks and picnics with him, I remember the first time that he noticed the sun. Even the most challenging of days also included incredible moments and gave us a strong foundation as a family.  Your son Thomas was diagnosed very early on with low-functioning autism and an intellectual disability, both lifelong conditions – tell me about the journey to his diagnosis... It was around three years old that Thomas was diagnosed with autism, we had just moved to Sydney. And then at six years old he was diagnosed with a moderate intellectual disability. I think attitudes have changed a bit now, but when Thomas was little I used to be told constantly that you shouldn’t label your child, and opinions like that. And I didn’t want to label my child, I just wanted to have the information to support him, to have the very best life for him. I remember Joan Didion saying, “Go to the literature”. Information leads to understanding. With the diagnosis I felt I didn’t have control over many things and I lacked an understanding – not that we have all the answers, as parents – but there were a lot of circumstances that would impact Thomas, like if it was too windy or if there was too much noise, or fire alarms. So, I would try to control what I could, and that was about not becoming overly obsessed with a cure, or making a situation perfect, or anything like that. It was knowing ways in which I could genuinely support him, and to create a life for us that supported his needs, but that wouldn’t become all about his diagnosis as well. What does low-functioning autism and an intellectual disability mean day-to-day for you in terms of care? Thomas requires 24-hour care at all times, and most likely will not live independently. One of my focuses for Thomas is making sure that he has the best therapy and educational opportunities, however as his mum my key focus is life experiences. For example, we’re not a big ‘gift’ family, but we’re really committed to having fun times and creating memories together: picnics, swimming, we love food. Thomas really loves eating out – he loves his cheeseburgers and prawn dumplings – and being by the water. I think that the time you spend together is the most precious thing.  Can you tell me about the incredible bond you share with Thomas? We really look out for each other, we’re kind to each other in our home, and I think that’s part of our bond. Our home is a happy home, it’s a place where we take time to enjoy each other’s company. We really laugh a lot, we know how to have a good time together. No one’s perfect, we both have our moments, but we take the time to make sure each other are OK.

What are the biggest challenges you face mothering a son with low-functioning autism and an intellectual disability? There’s not a lot of down time from it at all. Thomas doesn’t go and hang out with friends, and in a way that’s kind of lovely because his life is quite innocent. However, I have to be really organised, particularly in my work life. I have to be methodical and strategic with how I commit my time and prioritise. I love what I do, and I want to do a great job, and I think that sense of accomplishment and fulfilment contributes to how I manage the challenges of having a son with low functioning autism and an intellectual disability. My life has changed dramatically in a positive way since Thomas has started attending Giant Steps school. I’m able to commit to the day and to my work knowing that Thomas is getting an incredible educational experience. If he didn’t go to Giant Steps, I don’t know where he would go to school in Australia – there are no options in our local neighbourhood and my work to date has been very Sydney-centric. Thomas travels 40 minutes one way and 40 minutes back to get to Gladesville every morning, and many therapists unfortunately come and go – it can be quite transient. There are financial challenges in that there’s a lot of shortage of resources. I know that I’m lucky to live in Australia and that it is fairly progressive – I feel very, very grateful – but at the same time, there are complexities and challenges and they’re real and they exist. Thomas also has additional needs, and they require additional time and financial resources, but that’s just the reality of the situation. You’ve been asked the question: “Would I have had my son, if I knew he was going to be autistic?” How does this question make you feel? I remember when Thomas was younger, it was a really emotional time, and I felt very upset by the question. Now I just believe the question came from a good place. Because Thomas is in such a wonderful space and living such a wonderful life, and is so happy, we’re on such a great path together. In one instance I was asked this, this person is now a mum herself and remains a friend, and I genuinely believe she was seeking to understand and going through her own journey.  How do you personally deal with feelings of overwhelm? I’m lucky that I have some really incredibly close friends that are a great support. Thomas has got incredible grandparents, and a beautiful relationship with his Dad. I have a dear friend, Jess, and her family have been an incredible support to Thomas and I. We also have Lucy, our dog, she’s been with us five years now. I think it’s well documented that having animals can be therapeutic. Lucy, for both of us, has had such an incredibly positive impact but particularly for Thomas. I also take time to find moments in the day for just a little bit of ritualistic calm. So just going to Gertrude & Alice bookstore and cafe and having a chai, or taking time to read a good book. I enjoy reading and that helps me manage anxieties that I might be feeling at the time. I try to make our home feel special. We light our candles, and we love having beautiful flowers and glassware. We take the time to set the table for dinner. Our home is a really special place for us. We go to the farmers markets in Bondi, or the Paddington markets, it’s such a grounding experience for us and it really helps me manage pressures. During COVID-19 we bought a BBQ, and we love cooking seafood outside together. I really enjoy work – I love it. I love supporting local and international designers and businesses to build their brands and achieve their dreams. Equally, I love supporting talent to achieve their career aspirations. And Thomas and I travel a lot. For me that’s something I always find incredible – you travel, you feel inspired, you have different experiences. But it’s also great for Thomas as well because it builds his confidence, and when his confidence is built, that also gives me a little more space because he’s in such a good space.

Did you feel supported by when Thomas was diagnosed? Support was there, Thomas has a lot of love in his life. But no, not really. But that’s not anyone’s fault, though. I was scared and I was worried for my son that I loved, and I didn’t know a lot about autism, and I was frightened. So, I think that the support was there but I didn’t know how to ask for help, and maybe I was just so in it each day that I couldn’t see the wood for the trees. The fact we’re still coming to the same cafe 15 years later and I still speak regularly to my son’s grandparents, who adore Thomas, says a lot about the people that have shown up for us in our lives. I think people are always going to be busy with their own lives, and there is still a lot of unknowns around autism. I don’t look back on that period and think I didn’t have support; I look back and think we were all just doing our best. It was a really hard time, I just needed to get through the day and support my son, and that’s what I was focused on. I have a number of formative role models that I have and continue to look to. Patti Smith, Joan Didion, and especially Thomas’s grandmother, Brenda. Joni Mitchell is another; a quote of hers has always stuck with me, “Keep a good heart”. Keeping a good heart has always been my guiding light as both a mum and a professional. Can you tell me about Giant Steps? One of my favourite subjects: Giant Steps is incredible. For anybody who has a child with autism, I cannot recommend it more highly as a potential place to explore for their child. The educators, the support team network, they are all incredible. The approach is holistic and it’s about creating incredible learning experiences. We, as parents of the Giant Steps community, do a lot of fundraising and work around awareness to support the school. It’s something I’m really excited to do and something I’m super committed to. The fashion community have really got behind as well – Aje, Havaianas and Incu have all made incredibly generous donations to the school and are very interested in knowing how Thomas is going and how the school is going. They recognise each child as an individual, but there’s also an incredible sense of community. Thomas is like any teenager, he often doesn’t want to go to school in the morning (laughs), and I’m quite happy to send him off because I know he’s in a really good place where he’s getting an experience that I can’t provide to him. Thomas does not have access to suitable after-school care – how does this impact your work? School holidays can be a struggle, particularly since COVID. However I think being Thomas’s mum makes me a lot more effective in my role with UMENCO. I can cut through things quickly. There’s not a lot of time for white noise and I’m strong at prioritising. I’m really driven, career wise, and I want to do a good job and I want to be a great mum as well.  For me they’re the two most important facets of my life, and I give my all to both. I’m committed to delivering my very best work for my clients, because at the end of the day it’s business, it’s work. The result is that I partner and represent people who have great integrity and strong ethics, and from that naturally stems some understanding when understanding is needed. What are some of the biggest misconceptions around autism? That everyone has a miraculous skill, that they’re hyper-geniuses. Which makes me laugh. I’m such an admirer of Temple Grandin and Stephen Wiltshire, and Tim Sharp and his incredible mum are such inspirations and support to me. They’ve become close family friends. They’re brilliant, and any awareness and accomplishment is to be admired and appreciated. But you can’t only focus on your child having a superpower. I also think there’s a lot of misconception that there’s a lot of educational and therapy resources available, potentially. Over the last 15 years more has become available, however there is still a lot of work to be done.  How has your relationship with your partner changed since you became a mother? Thomas’s dad and I separated within Thomas’s first year. Like all parents, whether we’re together or not together, we’ve had some challenges but at the same time we both love Thomas so much and we’re so connected by that. We’re not perfect, we don’t have a perfect relationship, and we have to work hard to communicate well with each other. I think that we do a great job of navigating as co-parents and I think that’s because we really love Thomas. Thomas now has a little brother from his dad’s second marriage, Hugo [5], who we love and Thomas loves him so much. Stefan and I definitely see each other as family, and want what’s best for Thomas, and Stefan has really great parents. They are the world’s best grandparents, hands down – they support us with Thomas but they also really support us navigate as parents as well. Thomas will never live independently, so he will be with us for the rest of his life – which is wonderful, but we have a deep sense of responsibility around that. When I think about Stefan I think we both take the responsibility of being parents that are there for Thomas and providing a happy childhood and a great life; that supersedes any frustrations we have with each other. You’ve written about how to avoid tokenism right now – what are your thoughts here? I like to believe tokenism comes from a good space. And I believe that we are all trying to do our best, and can do so much better. I think it’s great that conversations are happening more, and positive action is a result. It’s important that we listen to people, even if we don’t agree with their opinion. If we stop listening and learning from each other, that’s when we stop improving and that’s not OK. Tell me about UMENCO – and what your mission with your company is?  UMENCO is committed to making career dreams come true, and for people and brands (both local and international) to curate a career and business they’re really proud of. We spend so much time at work that there’s such great positivity from being fulfilled at work and doing great work and having financial rewards there, and a sense of accomplishment.  I identified that there was an opportunity within the recruitment space to approach the industry differently. And I’m really glad I could see that, and followed that instinct. We take a different approach – I think there’s a place in the market for all different kinds of approaches – but our focus has always been on relationships, nurturing relationships and having an astute understanding of the industry and talent we represent. Understanding of brand, culture fit and growth trajectory strategies are our three fundamental pillars. How did COVID-19 impact your business and how has it changed the way you work? There were a few weeks that weren’t a lot of fun. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, many of my clients had to close their stores, and we were all navigating this incredibly unknown situation that no one could have ever foreseen. There were some decisions that had to be made that weren’t easy decisions. At the same time, it’s also provided so much opportunity and an incredible sense of clarity and direction. We are in a stronger position than ever, and relationships have flourished even more during this period because we really did work together as a community and support each other.  As a result many of my clients are experiencing growth during this period, because they have cultivated a strong connection with their customers and their teams. Which is not to say we’ve got all the answers! Whilst I understand the challenges, and I feel for people who aren’t working at the moment and for markets where shutdowns are still in place or will occur again, there’s also been some great positive moments for UMENCO and for our clients, and I’ve also seen some talent take on their dream roles and be able to take on more scope. It’s was a really mixed year.  You’ve worked with many fashion brands – what distinguishes those who make it versus those who don’t? There’s lot of different factors, but I think that there’s some core things – one of which is that they’re talented and not oblivious to people and the world around them. They have a clear understanding of what they bring and what they’re amazing at, and then have the humility to build teams around them that bring something different, and they surround themselves with people that understand their vision and have an alignment from a values perspective and a north star perspective, but are comfortable to respectfully challenge and to bring something different. Even the most talented person can’t do everything, so they build incredible teams and inspire those teams and they have that important balance between striving towards the north star and understanding their DNA, but then also continuing to be curious and to learn. The most successful people I work with are also great people. They are respectful, collaborative and decisive when they need to be. Being able to provide and receive feedback and clearly deliver a direction and pivot if required, I believe, is critical to sustainable success. Also knowing how to build a brand and team culture that is respectful to our environment and community and inclusive in hiring and cultural practices is essential. Tell me about Project You? Project You is probably one of my favourite parts of UMENCO, and it’s definitely been one of the bright moments of this year in particular. There were some weeks when I was feeling really concerned about what was happening, and I could see a lot of people were being made redundant, so I wanted to reach out and to provide an opportunity for people to have someone who would listen and to talk to and provide guidance, and maybe some industry information. To be a support network, of sorts. And it was so incredibly successful, we’ve been able to raise so much money for Giant Steps – because for me it was really important during that time that Project You wasn’t an activity to make money from. People have lost their jobs and they’re feeling scared and concerned, so I thought it was just a really important opportunity to support Giant Steps, who were also so affected as all of their fundraising events were cancelled. So, this was my way to help Giant Steps, but also to support a community that I’m so passionate about and I’m so loyal to, to give back during that period, and that kept me very motivated. And from that, we’ve actually placed people in their dream roles. It continues on, and it’s something that I’ve decided, because it had such great upside, that I’m going to continue to do as a not-for-profit endeavour on a weekly basis. You want to bring Thomas into UMENCO to work with clients and the team, to bring his qualities to the business in a way that nurtures his spirit and abilities. Tell me more about this? I just think he’s always been quite present within the business. We do a lot of fundraising and awareness work that the teams with our clients get a lot from, get a lot of learning. Thomas is such a positive attribute to the business, both for myself and our team. He has great relationships with my team members and clients. Moving forward a business goal of UMENCO is to build a pillar of business which supports people with disabilities, to find meaningful work where they are financially rewarded for their contributions. Recently we hosted an event at Saint Cloche Gallery to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Giant Steps . COVID has brought about challenges in 2020, and it was wonderful to have the opportunity to celebrate joy and optimism with our clients and community.

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