Why I Left a Career in HR to Run a Game Show Experience

If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d swap my career in HR to run a travelling game show, I probably would have laughed. Actually no I wouldn't - I’d have said THAT SOUNDS EFFING GREAT AND A PROPER BIT OF ME. But for the purposes of this blog we’ll say that I’d have laughed, however… running a traveling game show is my actual job but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

From Office Manager to Head of People

I started out in late 2018 as an Office Manager for Sensat, moved into Employee Experience during lockdown, and eventually became Head of People (covering mat leave, but still). I loved it. For me, HR was always about people. Someone in Human Resources that doesn’t like humans is just like when you see a publican that doesn’t like the public (you defo know those pub landlords). I love helping people, guiding them, supporting them, I’m a people person. Sensat’s staff where were my customers, and making sure they had a great experience at work was my priority. There was never a moment where I thought, this isn’t for me. But I just realised that something else was pulling me, something even more exciting and that innate feeling that I needed to show off more, I couldn’t shake off….

The Moment It Clicked

For years, I’d been running a game show at Sensat’s summer party, Senfest. It was always the highlight of the event. People were laughing, competing, and having a great time but without even realising it, they were also team-building. They were getting to know each other, supporting each other, and bonding in a way that no forced ‘all of you pick up this stick without speaking’ could ever achieve.

That’s when it hit me: this wasn’t just a fun side project. There’s something in this. And if I was going to do it properly, I had to go all in.

Taking the Leap

Show Time London was getting busy… too busy to juggle alongside a full-time HR job. I had to make a choice. So I did. Yolo and all that. All in Jim so I handed in my notice. Big Boy Pants Jim.

Everyone at Sensat was super supportive. No one said, Are you sure? or Don’t do it. They just got it. They’ve been wonderful. And that gave me the confidence to take the leap. You Can Do It Jim.

What Makes Show Time London Different?

Everyone’s seen a game show, but not many people have actually been on one. And let’s be honest, we’ve all secretly wished we could be.

That’s what makes Show Time London different. It’s not just another team-building activity. It’s a full-blown game show experience, with lights, buzzers, music, and a sparkly gold suit. But underneath all the fun, there’s a real purpose.

With my background in HR, I know what makes teams work better… collaboration, communication, and trust. And frankly team, if you don’t know someone, you’re less likely to approach them at work. But if you’ve been on a team together, smashing a quiz round or frantically trying to solve a challenge, that barrier disappears. You’re instantly more comfortable with each other, and that makes working together so much easier.

I should probably add some stats here on this, but its an innate feeling that I understand how teams work and how humans work really well. I think its my superpower tbh.

The Highs and Lows of Running My Own Business

The Challenges

• It can be lonely. I miss my team at Sensat and especially Soph. Having people to bounce ideas off and just chat with during the day.

• Getting leads isn’t easy! I’m constantly hustling to get bookings. Now if people reply ‘unsubscribe’ I just reply and say ‘I bet you’re fun at the Christmas party!’. Makes me feel better anyway.

• The stress is real. I’m not just a game show host - I’m also the head of finance, the driver, the marketing manager, the set builder, the creative director, the software developer, the light technician etc etc. None of which I’m actually qualified for and its terrifying!

The Best Bits

• The shows. Always. Seeing people’s faces when they walk in and see their office become a game show set or when I come out in my gold suit, when they smash the buzzer, get a right answer, or come out with the wildest response imaginable. It’s magic!

• The fact that I get to do something I genuinely love every day. Even the stress of driving a van through central London is worth it when I see people having the time of their lives.

The Future of Show Time London

I suppose I want Show Time London to be the go-to name for team-building events. I want every single experience to be brilliant, magical, and unforgettable for the businesses that book me and the people who play. And most of all, I never want to lose the absolute joy I get from hosting it. I hope I never lose that.

Here’s hoping.

Xx

PS  You can play too - get in touch today and book Show Time London - the game show that comes to you!