International Women's Day - Meet Becky Hopkin

I’m Becky Hopkin, Managing Director of Digital Gearbox, a specialist PPC agency based in Bicester Oxfordshire. I didn’t start out as a business owner.  I joined Digital Gearbox over a decade ago as a PPC Executive and worked my way up through the business before eventually taking the leap into ownership in 2017. That journey gave me a deep understanding of both the technical side of paid media and the realities of running and growing an agency. Today, I lead a brilliant team who manage multi-million-pound ad budgets for clients across the UK and beyond, and spend a lot of time balancing strategy, people, and the bigger picture of where we’re heading.

Inspiration & motivation

What inspired me most was the opportunity to build something better – better client relationships, better standards, better outcomes for both our clients and our team. There wasn’t one dramatic “lightbulb” moment, but rather a gradual realisation that I cared deeply about how the business was run and the impact we could have on other businesses’ success.

The arrival of my 2 daughters has been the biggest influence on my journey. They motivate me every day to not only provide for them, but I want nothing more than to make them proud and to be a great example of what they could achieve if they work hard and focus on the right things in life. Their arrival also forced me to build a strong team which meant the business could operate without me when required. 

Challenges & growth

One of the biggest challenges was underestimating that running a business is very different to working for a business. Learning to carry the weight of leadership and make decisions that affect livelihoods, clients, and long-term stability is hard and there’s no handbook for that. Like many others, I’ve also experienced imposter syndrome, especially as I’ve become less hands on the tools over the years when stepping into rooms where I felt less experienced or less confident than others. The parenting/worklife juggle is also very real!

Success & achievements

The business achievement I’m most proud of isn’t a single award or milestone – it’s building a business that clients trust and a team that feels supported and empowered. Success, for me, used to be solely based on monthly revenue growth. Now it’s more nuanced. Yes, profitability matters but so does a healthy work/life balance, having a team that is happy and developing, and fostering long term partnerships with clients that we love to work with as much as they love to work with us. 

Leadership & values

My leadership is guided by clarity, honesty, and continuous learning. I believe in setting clear expectations, giving people autonomy, and creating an environment where it’s safe to ask questions and challenge ideas. 

We have 3 core values at Digital Gearbox:

• In It Together: We show up for each other and our clients. We collaborate, communicate, and win as one team.
• No BS: We’re clear, honest, and genuinely helpful. No fluff, no ego – just straight answers, smart thinking, and a commitment to doing the right thing.
• Always Driven: We push for better – better results, better thinking and better outcomes. We are always learning, always improving, and never standing still.

Advice & lessons learned

My advice to women starting out is simple: don’t wait to feel “ready.” You learn by doing, and clarity comes from action. One lesson I wish I’d learned earlier is that saying ‘no’ is just as important as saying ‘yes’. Not every opportunity is the right opportunity. The habits that have helped me most are reflection, planning, and being willing to adapt when something isn’t working instead of forcing it.

Looking ahead…what’s next?

Right now, I’m excited about refining our services, building even stronger systems, and creating more space for strategic thinking through automation of the button pushing. Over the next few years, my goal is to continue growing the business sustainably while protecting time for family, health, and creativity. 

Personal insight…what makes me tick?

Balance is always a work in progress, but I’m intentional about being present outside of work, especially with my family. On tough days, what motivates me is perspective – remembering how far we’ve come as an agency and why I decided to take the plunge into running it in the first place. Progress, not perfection, keeps me moving forward.

A bit of fun to finish on…

One word for my journey: Evolving
Best advice I’ve received: You don’t need to have all the answers – just take the next right step
Unusual hobby: I love a good planning spreadsheet for holidays (yes, really).
Early mornings or late nights? I used to be a late nighter, but having children has turned me into an early morning kind of girl. 

For more information, contact the Digital Gearbox team direct.