CEO CHATS: Sophie Lamotte, SE:COMMS Founder

CEO CHATS: Sophie Lamotte, SE:COMMS Founder

by Hermione Bellm in Interviews With CEO Women That Inspire Us

Sophie Lamotte is the Founder behind SE:COMMS, a dynamic brand communications agency rooted in collaboration and creativity. Since launching in 2016, Sophie has worked across the fashion, tech, and beauty industries in London, Paris, and New York City, partnering with an impressive roster of brands including Paris Texas, Cybex, and Diane von Furstenberg.

We sat down with Sophie to discuss the importance of staying abreast of differing industries, the fast-paced nature of PR and the global expansion of SE:COMMS. 

Can you define your agency?

SE:COMMS is a brand communications agency with a focus on fashion, lifestyle and wellness. 

"With bases in London and New York, we manage projects on a global scale, creating connections across diverse countries and industries."

What's your agency mantra?

"Connection and community." 

In an ever evolving technological world, it's about creating those moments that are timeless as well as finding the right people that are a good fit for our clients. 

What sets your agency apart?

We are a small team, extremely collaborative and hands on, as well as nimble, which helps in a fast moving industry!

"Working across a variety of industries, representing both brands and talent, gives us a lot of intel and helps bring different perspectives and connections to the table." 

How do you manage your time between client vs stakeholders (influencer / press / VIP / creatives)? How do you ensure the right output vs retainer?  

It's about being mindful in regard to how we spend our time most efficiently whilst generating the best results for our clients. The work is spread across the team,

"who all have clear responsibilities, and we make sure we have clearly defined scopes with clients." 

What does the future hold for SE:COMMS? 

We are expanding into different sectors, looking to Europe and continuing to adapt to the ever evolving field of communications. 

What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own agency? 

Have a very clear vision, find your niche and

"be willing to work really hard"

.. and don't forget to enjoy the process and have fun along the way! 

In an industry that changes so rapidly and constantly, how do you stay ahead and constantly pivot to stay fresh? 

Working in communications is like steering a boat,

"nothing is ever set in stone and we are always moving forward."

In our industry it's really important to remain curious and open to change - it's the nature of the business we are in.  

Working across so many brands, how do you creatively ensure they maintain their unique sense of identity and you are constantly rolling out fresh concepts to stay relevant? 

It’s key to have a diverse and international team that has different perspectives and inputs. We also make sure that our clients are well balanced, working across different sectors.

"Finally, it's really important to immerse yourself in things outside of your industry, to not limit your inspiration and to constantly stay relevant." 

How do you choose which clients to work with? Do you have a partner selection process?

We need to have shared values and ambitions. It's also very intuitive and we need to have the right personality fit too. 

Talk to us about your International expansion?

We are currently working in both London and New York and we are really excited about Europe, and how we can support clients there. This is something we will be exploring over the next year. 

Quickfire Questions

Coffee Order

I've just come out of a matcha and no coffee phase, which was great but I missed it, so currently I'm drinking a double espresso with a drop of frothy oat milk! 

What’s inspiring you?

I'm very lucky that my job allows me to meet different people every day, which I find so inspiring. I love meeting people that are passionate about something and building great things, and it's even better when we get to work with them! 

Your dream client? 

A client in hospitality would be a dream. 

Groundbreaking brand you admire? 

Currently DL1961 and their commitment to sustainable production. 

Campaign you wish you’d done?  

Everyone in the office (including myself) all want a Burberry bikini summer! 

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I love their ethos, products, scents and store concepts, their brand shines through everything they do, and I think that’s one of the main reasons they are a huge success Product you admire/wish you’d created! Merit Cheek Cream - a tricky product category to win at. However, innovative packaging and a very clever story has made sure this product is in everyone’s make up bag and it will be for a long time. I love the fact that you don’t need to reinvent the wheel to have success, sometimes it’s clever tweaks and the correct strategy and story that cause the biggest industry disruption    

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CEO CHATS: Shamini Rajarethnam, Rationale CEO

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What’s inspiring you?  Currently, it’s the book ‘Unreasonable Hospitality’ by Will Guidara, the former owner of Eleven Madison Park. In context of work, there are so many relevant lessons and insights that really resonated with me in terms of how we can continue to level up our own client experience, whether that’s from the formulations we create, the services we offer, or the high-touch moments with our clients. Elsewhere, I am almost always drawn to the creative work from Loewe and Bottega Veneta. And I also follow a lot of interior design accounts for home life.  Favourite business quote There are no sacred cows! I repeat this to my leadership team, reminding them we need to challenge ourselves and how we’ve always done things to balance remaining true to our ethos and staying relevant. 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CEO CHATS: Cassie James, CASSIES Founder

CEO CHATS: Cassie James, CASSIES Founder

Cassandra James is the Founder behind CASSIES,  a full-service wholesale consulting service specialising in helping beauty, luxury, and lifestyle brands expand their retail reach and grow in new markets. Before launching the agency in 2025, Cassie built her career in strategic global wholesale roles, serving as Head of Sales at Australian athleisure brand P.E Nation and Head of International at fashion agency Polly King & Co. We sat down with Cassie to talk about the launch of her new agency, CASSIES about how she knew the timing was right, her vision for the agency’s future, and why leaning on industry experts is so important for personal and brand growth. Can you define your agency? CASSIES is a 360 consultancy and wholesale agency offered to global fashion, lifestyle and beauty brands. We work with brands to streamline operations, drive sustainable growth and build meaningful connections in a constantly shifting global landscape. What inspired you to open your own agency? 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Of course, this will evolve as the agency grows and we build out the right team and infrastructure. For now, I’m focused on showing up with impact and setting the tone for the kind of partnerships I believe in. What’s your Agency mantra? It’s not just sales. It’s a global partnership. My role goes far beyond just collecting wholesale orders - "I’m an active partner in building and elevating your brand across global markets."  It’s about long-term growth, strategic placement, and making sure every move relates back to the bigger vision. What is the plan for CASSIES? In the short term, we’re in onboarding mode with some very exciting clients. "The focus is on staying agile and responsive to market shifts - which means showing up where it matters, whether that’s through pop-ups or presence in key markets like New York and Paris."  Long term, the plan is to grow with real consideration and intent. I’m passionate about partnering with brands that truly align with my values and shared vision of success. It’s not about scaling fast - it’s about building something meaningful. What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own agency?  Find your niche. "Get clear on where you actually add value and what sets you apart - then build around that. Don’t just follow how it’s always been done." If your gut is telling you there’s a gap or a better way to do something, trust that instinct. If you’re feeling that need, chances are others are too. That’s where the opportunity lies. In an industry that changes so rapidly and constantly, how do you stay ahead and constantly pivot to stay fresh?  I’m not afraid to ask questions or tap into the expertise of others. I love hearing different perspectives, especially from people outside my immediate field because our industry is so interconnected. They’re specialists for a reason, and I don’t believe in being too proud to ask for help. I also stay close to what’s happening culturally - through podcasts, news, media and friends in the industry. This helps to spark ideas or identify shifts early. It keeps me inspired, informed, and open to pivoting when something new emerges. Working across so many brands, how do you creatively ensure they maintain their unique sense of identity and you are constantly rolling out fresh concepts to stay relevant?  This is my creative outlet. I genuinely love problem solving and developing strategies that feel true to a brand’s identity and vision. "Wholesale can sometimes feel restrictive, with brands boxed into certain categories or departments, so I’m always looking for ways to challenge that through unique partnerships, placements, and collaborations."  In such a competitive space, brand identity has to be unmistakable. That’s why I make sure every wholesale opportunity we pursue feels aligned, considered, and where the customer expects to find the brand - never forced. That’s what drives both cut-through and sell-through. How do you choose which clients to work with? Do you have a partner selection process? Just a few months in, I feel really lucky to have had such an incredible calibre of brands reach out - it’s given me the confidence to be selective. "I look for brands that feel aligned both emotionally and commercially - those with a clear point of difference, scalability, and a pulse on where the market’s headed. I often know straight away when there’s a natural connection." Whether it’s the founder’s story, the product, or the brand storytelling. I usually place my consumer hat on first, which makes it easy to step into the role of ambassador and champion with authenticity. Quickfire Questions Coffee Order Black americano! What's inspiring you at the moment? It might not sound traditionally “inspiring,” but the recent tariff changes in the US have definitely sparked a wave of movement and strategic recalibration globally. Brands are actively reassessing their distribution and looking to expand into new markets - which is creating fresh opportunities and driving trade. It’s a reminder that disruption often creates space for reinvention, and that’s where I find a lot of energy right now. Your dream client?  Jessica McCormack - Her influence in the fine jewellery space is unmatched. She doesn’t do wholesale, but if she did… I’d be first in line. Groundbreaking brand you admire?  I am so excited to share that Australian’s leading luggage brand July has appointed CASSIES as their global expansion partner. July embodies everything it means to be ground breaking for me in terms of product innovation, branding and market leaders. I am very honoured to be a part of their team. Campaign you wish you’d done?   I find the high-low collabs really interesting - so most recently, the H&M x Magda Butrym collaboration

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