About
My Story
I was born on a winter’s night in London in 1977.
IMMIGRANT PARENTS
My parents had arrived in London a few years earlier from Kashmir, settling in South London.
They were on a mission to build a better life for themselves, propelled by a curiosity of other cultures. Both of my grandfathers had fought in the British army. They had travelled extensively, so it was only natural for my parents to leave the country of their birth to head for the centre of the Anglosphere, the great city of London.
Like many immigrants, they worked hard to give their children a better life. They were both well educated, exceptionally hardworking and entrepreneurial. They set up several businesses spanning property, beauty consumer goods and professional services. My childhood revolved around school. And when I wasn’t there, I was in my parents’ offices and factories, watching them navigate relationships with suppliers, employees, customers and other stakeholders. They never complained of the overt racism and prejudice they faced - they just worked harder to achieve their goals. We were a family of workaholics.
There was no such thing as holidays or hobbies. I took my first job in media at the age of 10. A daily paper round before school meant waking up extra early to get to class on time. I loved working in media then, and still do. I can still remember the smell of rain on ink and paper. Living in the UK, the rain was a frequent occupational hazard.
DIVERSITY
I had a middle-class upbringing thanks to my hardworking parents. I was educated in both state and private schools. From an early age, I was exposed to a multitude of tribes, across socio-economic, cultural, religious and political divides. But rather than focus on the differences, I always saw the common thread of humanity. I fell in love with and married a man called Marco. He was the other—another skin colour, religion, culture and from a different socio-economic group. I have always been attracted by the other, as I am curious and diversity presents an opportunity to learn.
Diversity is a core value of Curzon PR and is our professional elixir. Not because it has become fashionable for virtue signallers, but because having a diverse team offers a myriad of perspectives which allows robust strategic and critical thinking. We embrace change whether demonstrated in a consultant’s CV or disruption in the communications sector, driven by consumer activism, AI or geopolitics. We champion diversity around gender, race and religion as well as neurodiversity. And we attract those with a diversity of thought across the political and philosophical spectrum. Among our community of consultants, there are a number who have crossed over into PR from other disciplines, including politics, law, engineering, finance and accounting.
FINDING MY PURPOSE
After studying Economics and Maths at university, I left in my second year for a year out and never returned. I set up an accounting firm specialising in a niche tax service for people arriving and leaving the UK. After running the firm for ten years, I began a voluntary role at the Conservative Party as Vice Chairman of its Business Relations Forum. I will always be grateful to the Conservative Party for the opportunity and exposure to communications. I found my purpose because of the party. I co-founded Curzon PR with a good friend called James Ollerenshaw, and you can read more about the story here. It taught me that some of the most valuable experiences you can have come from volunteering and changing your life’s trajectory.
After a decade of working in Public Relations, I am still obsessed with communications. I look forward to devoting the rest of my life to it. As well as being a practitioner, I have the wonderful opportunity to teach and share my passion for Public Relations and insight on how communications can transform our lives for the better. We are, after all, storytelling animals.
Career milestones
Some of the accomplishments and prestigious accolades from Farzana’s public-relations career.
Founded Curzon PR in 2009
Honourary Fellow at the Chartered Institute of Public Relations
Fellow, Chartered Institute of Marketing
Resident Public Relations Expert and Ambassador, the Oxford Foundry, University of Oxford
Entrepreneur of the Year, WPO
Businesswoman of the Year, Muslim Awards
Entrepreneur of the Year, Asian Women of Achievement Awards
Media Professional of the Year, AMA Awards
Trustee of British Asian Trust
PR Week Power Book
Trustee for Soho Theatre
PRovoke Media's Top 25 Innovators in PR for EMEA
Award for PR Innovation, UK Parliamentary Society of Arts
Specialisms
Over the past twenty years, Farzana has helped governments, corporates and entrepreneurs with their communication, public relations and marketing needs. The focus of much of her work is strategic communications, helping to position clients for growth and success. Farzana’s other core specialisms include crisis communications, strategy, public affairs, capacity building and leadership storytelling.
