Naomi S.
About me
| Naomi S. | |
| Politics, Economics and Philosophy | |
| PPE | |
| Undergraduate | |
| Derwent | |
| 2019 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Brand Manager | |
| FUNKIN Cocktails (A.G. Barr) | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Advertising, marketing and PR | |
| Medium-size business (50-249 employees) | |
| 2023 |
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A day in the life of a Brand Manager in the United Kingdom
I graduated and accepted a trainee accountant role at PwC... which was totally the opposite of what I do now.
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
Funkin Cocktails are the #1 cocktail brand in the UK, with the mission of bringing Bar Quality cocktails to people everywhere. Since 2015, Funkin has operated within the AG Barr Group as a supported, yet stand-alone, business unit.
What do you do?
As retail brand manager, I am responsible for managing distribution across grocery & convenience channels. I look after relationships with the big 4 supermarkets, and am a key part of the strategic brand planning team, developing insights & analysis to build best in class category partnerships with customers. I manage BTL campaign agencies, activiations and budgets.
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
After working at Red Bull during my university years, I got a real kick from the personability of the marketing and branding industry, and loved learning about what huge influence it has across peoples choices and purchasing decisions. My PPE degree also taught me a huge deal about nudge economics, and influence.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
Different! I graduated and accepted a trainee accountant role at PwC... which was totally the opposite of what I do now. I realised there was something missing, and after looking back at my experience with Red Bull I realised I wanted to go back into marketing.
Describe your most memorable day at work
I start my new role Monday... so TBC!
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
The Derwent College Committee, Sports Teams (netball, football, women rugby), YCC, regular college life events, Big-D committee, and working in D-Bar.
What would you like to do next with your career?
Ace this new job... and hopefully move into a senior brand manager role in the next couple of years.
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
Visibility is so important, whether it be in your work environment, or across the wider industry. Make your LinkedIn profile now, and start going to networking events outside of your company.
What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?
Brand management, marketing, sales, accounting grad schemes(!), moving into a different industry than the one you studied. Living in London, networking, building relationships, visibility & stakeholder management. Or whatever you can think of!
Next steps...
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