Despite tense beginnings, the relationship between the United States and Britain is widely seen as so cordial that it borders on sleepy. The two countries remained at each others throats for the first century of the former’s existence, with multiple wars and cold truces. Time, common languages, and shared economic interests eventually worked their magic and by the beginning of the 20th Century, the two countries were seen as commonly aligned in most matters. This period of change, roughly 1888 to the beginning of the First World War in 1914, was known as The Great Rapprochement and it never really ended. By 1921, good relations with the United States had become an important goal for the U.K., and by 2007 BritWeek was founded to celebrate all the fruits of this relationship. BritWeek is what happens when countries put aside their difference and become true friends with open hearts, ears, and eyes. It celebrates two countries consistently lifting each other up.
Lauren Stone is BritWeek’s Executive Director, and it’s her job to process the vast American-Anglo relationship into tangible events over a single week. She’s from Philadelphia and after six year at the British Consulate General took on the position at BritWeek. She’s often asked if planning one week’s worth of activities is a part-time job, which is a joke of a question. Running these events requires year-round discipline. Stone elaborates: from “July to November we are planning the next BritWeek – liaising with our key partners and sponsors and developing themes, topics, and individuals we would like to honor or celebrate during BritWeek. Starting in December, we want to get all the big information solidified and confirmed and ready for public consumption. In January, we promote our program and the events, beginning a long press effort. We also add even more events to the program. Britweek has five to 10 big signature events that are our core focus and the another 30 plus co-branded events that are organized by wonderful individuals and brands (like Ted Baker, Joseph, The Hammer Museum, The Getty Center, etc.). In March and April, we are busy 24/7, from event design details to guest lists to press outreach.“
This type of discipline, a year-long hustle, and these events, a week-long celebration, require a flexible leadership. There are a wide variety of leadership styles to draw from within the British-American relationship: the narrow vision of Sir Henry Clinton, the humble style of Clement Attlee, the attention to detail of Harry Gordon Selfridge. Stone thinks labels are overrated. She’s “never really been one to focus on management styles. In working with anyone – colleagues, sponsors, partners, or clients – my key focus is always respect and positivity. Problems and issues are bound to arise but if this is the basis for how you work, I think it is pretty good. That and a good sense of humor – did I mention tea and chocolate on a regular basis?”
Being at WeWork Hollywood allows BritWeekers, even if they “are like hermits” during the week itself, to be surrounded by the same types of energy and creativity that they are focused on celebrating. Being at a WeWork space “keeps us energized and inspired”, Stone says. BritWeek 2015’s event have been announced recently, running the gamut from celebrating J.M.W. Turner’s paintings (recently noted in the movie Mr. Turner) to Q&A sessions with the CEO of USA Rugby. If Stone’s fellow WeWork members have as much common sense as they do inspiration, they’ll try to get tickets to a least one event.
Photographs by Lauren Kallen