As part of our International Women’s Day celebrations, we’re shining a light on the inspiring career journeys of our DayMakers at On Verve. Today, we’re sharing the story of Gabbie Lapompe, Head of Operations, whose path took her from retail to leading operations in the guest services industry.

From stacking shelves to globe-trotting and guest services

Like many, Gabbie’s career started in retail while juggling A Levels, but she wasn’t entirely sure what came next. When university fees skyrocketed to £9,000 per year, she made a bold decision: skip university and explore South America instead!

After three months of adventure, she returned to the UK and found herself temping in reception roles. But this wasn’t just any temp job, her placements landed her at Microsoft and Google, where she quickly made an impression.

Her talent didn’t go unnoticed, and soon, she was offered a full-time role at Microsoft through CBRE. From there, her career skyrocketed, climbing the ranks from Receptionist to Facilities Coordinator, Assistant Facilities Manager and eventually Facilities Manager at some of the biggest tech companies, including Snapchat and Facebook.

Lessons from both sides of the business

One of the most valuable aspects of Gabbie’s journey is her ability to see the business from both the client and service provider perspectives. This dual experience has given her a unique advantage, allowing her to anticipate challenges, foster strong relationships, and always focus on solutions rather than problems.

“Working both client-side and service provider has helped me see the bigger picture. I’ve learned how to navigate different perspectives, share information effectively and always lead with transparency.”

Her leadership philosophy revolves around open communication, collaboration, and ensuring that every team member feels heard and empowered.

Career highlights

Gabbie’s career is filled with impressive milestones, but two moments stand out as defining achievements:

• Mobilising Facebook’s building expansion—increasing their space by 150,000 sqft during COVID! Talk about a logistical challenge… and a huge success!
• Landing her current role as head of operations at On Verve—leading with passion, purpose, and a commitment to creating amazing guest experiences.

Advice to young women looking to break into guest services

If you’re thinking about stepping into the guest services world, Gabbie has some words of wisdom:

“So many skills are transferable! Don’t be afraid to take the leap, make mistakes and learn along the way. Guest services is more than just a job, it’s an industry filled with amazing people, experiences and opportunities that can take you places you never expected.”

Her story is proof that the path to success doesn’t have to be linear. Sometimes, the most unconventional routes lead to the most rewarding destinations.

Inspired by fierce female leadership

Every great leader has a mentor who has shaped their journey, and for Gabbie, that inspiration came from her first manager at Microsoft—a bold, fearless woman thriving in a male-dominated industry.

“She was a total go-getter, strong, feisty and never afraid to take up space in the room. She showed me the power of a strong female voice, the importance of trusting your decisions and the confidence to lead a team.”

This example of fierce leadership became a guiding force for Gabbie, reinforcing the belief that women belong in leadership roles and can break barriers with confidence and resilience.

Celebrating women who lead, inspire and break barriers

At On Verve, we believe in championing women in leadership and Gabbie’s story is just one of many that prove where confidence, resilience and ambition can take you. We’re proud to celebrate the strong, inspiring and game-changing women within our team. Stay tuned for more DayMaker spotlights because we’ve got plenty more stories to share!