Welcome to our new interview series “LadyM Connects”. Over the coming weeks, every Thursday we will bring to you a fabulous person we have connected with in the world of fashion, beauty and lifestyle.

We’ll be asking them all the same questions to really get under their skin and find out what makes them tick and for any budding fashion photographers, PR people, beauty buffs or even Butlers in the Buff.. we will be bringing you an insight into the lives of the people in our little black book.

First up is Louisa Dawnay of Polo in the Park. Our lifestyle section is often lacking content but after falling in love with Polo earlier this year; we knew we had to investigate further…

Q1. Louisa, when did you first get involved in Polo in The Park and Polo in general?


A. I’ve been around polo since I was small. My mother plays and teaches and her parents both played too. A large part of my childhood was spent at some of England’s most beautiful polo clubs so I think my love for the game started pretty early. I’ve always ridden and always adored horses but I didn’t actually start playing until I was about 20 (much to the disappointment of my family!). I started working in polo at 25 and joined The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club as the assistant polo manager and then went on to manage it completely a year later. I became one of youngest polo manager’s in the country and the only women.

When the opportunity came up to get involved with Polo in the Park, I jumped at it. It ticked so many boxes for me. Having polo in central London, reviving the polo history that surrounded Hurlingham Park, bringing polo to new audiences, the list goes on and on…



Q2. What encouraged you to get into this industry and what was your route 
into  it?


A. I love everything about the game, the horses, the adrenalin, the team spirit and having spent so much time around polo in my youth, it made perfect sense that I would end up working in the industry. Plus I get to travel all over the world following the polo circuits- this year alone I’ll be in England, Spain, France, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Argentina, Mexico, Barbados & Switzerland and all in the most beautiful places.

Louisa in Uruguaiana, Brazil


Q3. What is a typical working day for you?

A. 
I live on a polo farm so I wake up when the animals do- early! At the moment I’m working on a project in Abu Dhabi where similarly to Polo in the Park we will be reducing the size of the pitch to create a more dynamic spectacle for the audience. We’re hosting the event at the Emirates Palace so there’s lots to do in the lead up! Because of the time difference, I always start my calls with Abu Dhabi, checking up on the event progress for our press launch and the project build. Then a usual day for me will be full of meetings, meetings with various brands wanting to get involved in polo and also people wanting to set up polo clubs around the world. Over the years, I have evolved into a polo consultant. If I get home early enough, I love riding in the afternoons, plus it keeps you uber fit!

Q
4. How would you describe Polo to those who have never experienced it?

A. 
Exhilarating, graceful, glamorous and a lifestyle I couldn’t live without. Sylvester Stallone once said ‘polo is like playing golf in an earthquake’ and Winston Churchill famously said ‘a polo handicap is a passport to the world’.

“ I have always strived to dismiss some of the myths about polo being stuffy and ‘just for toffs’ and hope over the years I’ve managed to demonstrate why polo is such a fun and exciting game.”

Q5. Where are you based, how much of an inspiration is your city and what are your favourite cities around the world?


A. I’m based in Surrey and around Berkshire and Surrey it is positively heaving with polo clubs so it’s a great place for me to be. One of my favourite cities has to be Buenos Aires, I just adore it. The people are beautiful, the city is exciting and the best polo in the world is played right in the centre of the city.

Q
6. How important do you find social media in the role of advertising events?

A. 
Vital. Social media plays an enormous part in getting instant information to everyone. The way social media helps advertise events has developed so that people feel closer to events and enjoy knowing all the details. They want to follow progress and updates and feel part of everything along the way.

Louisa in Uruguaiana, Brazil

Q
7. How do you find fashion involved in the the polo industry?

A, 
Fashion plays a big part in polo. As I mentioned, polo is a lifestyle so feeling good about what you’re wearing is all part of it. Polo seems to have it’s own fashion and I can usually spot a polo wag anywhere in the world!

Q8
. What’s the most rewarding part of your work? What is your greatest
 accomplishment so far?

A. 
In 2010, when Polo in the Park won best sporting event in London at the London Lifestyle awards, we knew we’d done it! And again in 2011, I couldn’t believe what we’d achieved. All our passion and hard work had paid off!

Q9.
 What is next for Polo in the Park ? What are your goals for 2012/13?


A. As I mentioned, the next project for City Events is Polo at the Palace in Abu Dhabi and then we’ll be concentrating on Polo in the Park 2013. Each year it gets bigger and better.


Bonus Question

If you didn’t do the job you do now – what would be your dream job and where?


If I wasn’t a polo manager, I would have opened boutiques all over Europe selling Argentine fashion. The cut of their jeans is second to none and the South American style is so effortless.

MINT Polo in the Park, London

Thanks to Louisa for being the first one to open up in our LadyM Connects interview series.. in the coming weeks we’ll bring you interviews from across the fashion, beauty and lifestyle sector – so stay logged in, to LadyM Presents every Thursday.