Career Stories

Want to become a marketing exec? Find out how Rhian did just that

Rhian Ecclestone Marketing Executive for Tuskany Agency/ Cake and Coffee Consumer 

What did you want to be when you were 16?
An Actor or a filmmaker.

What does an average day look like?
My job is extremely varied, I work with a number of clients each day on varying promotions, concepts and strategies with the overlying goal of growing their businesses and providing ROI.

Why do you love your job/career?
Because it is very creative and I work with the most awesome people and I have a fantastic mentor in my boss! I love that no day is the same, it is fast paced and requires problem-solving and creative thinking every day.

How did you get into your career?
I went into Administration after Uni then began taking on Marketing and Design projects as part of my Admin role, I then became a Marketing Junior and worked my way up to Marketing Manager for a local financial institution before seeing my current role advertised. 

What qualifications did you study?
BA Double Major in Screen and Media Studies and Theatre Studies. 

Do you have any advice for getting into your sector?
Look at becoming an intern – great hands-on experience.

What do you wish you had done differently?
To be honest I'm pretty happy with the way things have turned out so probably not a lot, however I'm not sure I got what I thought I was going to out of my Theatre Studies degree, I should have followed my gut and pursued Design and/or more Marketing papers earlier giving me a triple major in all three disciplines when I realised the Theatre Studies Degree wasn't allowing me to do what I thought it would, instead of sticking with it simply because I had already completed one year – to be fair what I wanted to do wasn’t available at the time.

What would you say to your teenage self about defining your future?
Really think about what you want to be and talk to people in that sector/role about their jobs and how they got there... an idea of what a job will entail isn't enough, you need to talk to someone in that role so you understand all the ins and outs to ensure it is actually the right fit for you.