Welcome to our  ‘A Day in the Life’ blog series, where we’ll be interviewing members of the LBF team, industry professionals, and special guests attending our next LBF event.

This month’s interviewee is Michele Cobb, Partner at Forte Business Consulting – which provide association management services for the publishing industry. Michele is also currently Executive Director for The Audio Publishers Association, PubWest, and The Podcast Academy.

We spoke to Michele about the importance of networking, mastering the art of Zoom calls on the road, and what she’s looking forward to the most at LBF24 …

What’s the first thing you do after your alarm has gone off in the morning?

I’m a natural early riser so don’t generally set an alarm, but the first thing I do when I wake up is play Words with Friends and check my emails on my phone.

Tea or coffee?

Diet Coke. Always.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Since I work with multiple associations, I tend to have a lot of Zoom meetings about partnerships, project management, fundraising, and committee work. In between Zoom calls I focus on moving the strategic goals of each group forward (trying to make daily progress on each one) and finally keeping my email inbox at bay.

I’m an organised person and love to make lists, which help me focus quickly as I switch from one project to another. I also travel extensively, so have mastered the art of leading a Zoom meeting from just about anywhere. With a laptop and a headset, it doesn’t matter what country or time zone I am in that day. If I have a decent internet connection, all is well.

In a perfect world I will also get in three brisk walks, to keep my energy up and my exercise rings closed. Ideally it’s one before I sit down for the first meeting, one midday, and one after my last meeting of the day.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Being part of vibrant and supportive communities with incredible people. I get to do a lot of things and journey to many places, talking about topics and products that I really enjoy. I feel truly lucky to be able to combine my love of travel, audio, and books into a career where every day brings something different to the table.

If you weren’t working in audio and digital publishing, what would be your alternative career?

Developing a travel app and teaching people all the tricks of life working on the road.

What is one piece of advice you would give to someone wanting to begin a career in your industry?

Network, network, network. If it is not your strongest skill, then find someone you are comfortable with who is great at it and work with them to help you meet people, or volunteer within your community. Building your network is an important way to grow your career and your expertise, so devote some time and energy in that direction.

If you could only recommend one book, film, and TV show to someone, what would it be?

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, which also has been made into a strong television series starring Elisabeth Moss. I rarely like adaptations of books, but this is an exception.

What are you looking forward to the most at LBF24?

Seeing colleagues and reconnecting. Conferences to me are a fantastic mix of fun and work which I really enjoy!

Stay tuned for our next interview, coming soon …

For more information on visiting or exhibiting at LBF24, click here.

Interested in book recommendations and reviews? Follow along with our LBF Book Club!