Tell us a little something about you? Where did you grow up?
I grew up on the South Coast in the New Forest, and after spending four years studying in Cardiff, I moved back and have been ‘waiting out’ the pandemic here ever since. I love to get out walking or running as much as I can, so I will definitely miss all this green space when I make the move to London.
Tell us one thing that is interesting about you?
A few years ago, I spent four months travelling South America, starting in Colombia and finishing in Buenos Aires. The first three months I travelled with a friend, but I tackled the last four weeks alone. I spent time at a Spanish school, trekked to Machu Picchu and realised solo travel is not something to be scared of.
What do you get up to in your spare time?
I am a book lover and a big fan of anything by authors like Dolly Alderton, Sally Rooney, Elizabeth Day and Meg Wolitzer. I’m also currently training for a half marathon in June to raise money for Anthony Nolan, so any spare time I have I’ll either be running or feeling guilty about not running.
What did you study at university?
I went to Cardiff University to study English Literature and Journalism at undergraduate level, before taking an MA in English Literature.
What career did you aspire to get into once you graduated?
I was never sure about what career to pursue when I was younger, and even as a graduate I felt uncertain about what I wanted to do next – hence staying on for an MA. I have always loved to write, and I thought journalism may be a good option. However, after studying it for three years, I realised that I would be much better suited to the world of marketing and PR. I loved social media, enjoyed the creative side of graphic design and, while I was hoping to find a way to write as much as possible, I also wanted to find a role that gave me the freedom to do something different each day.
How did you end up in PR?
After some time working in hospitality both in the UK and in France, I began to pursue a career in marketing. I spent a year and a half leading the marketing activities for a construction consultancy and its sister companies, before starting to look for new opportunities. I had a keen interest in technology and felt as though I would be a perfect fit for a role in PR. Luckily, Say agreed!
What inspired you to pursue a career in PR?
A friend of mine started her own PR agency and I saw what great work she was doing first-hand when she offered me some experience writing press releases. While it looked like hard work, I was craving a challenge after a long year of lockdown, and I was keen to kick-start a career that I could progress in. I loved the concept of being able to build relationships within a new team, as well as with clients and journalists, but still being able to write and be creative.
What does a day-to-day role as a JAE look like?
It might be a cliché to say, but every day is completely different. As a JAE, the day will often start with analysis of the latest news stories, both broadly within the technology industry, and then more specifically for each of my clients. I can then focus on anything from writing press releases and securing articles, to compiling awards submissions and creating social media posts. Each day is usually very busy, but incredibly rewarding.
What has been your favourite campaign to date?
Since joining Say, I have loved working with Corsight AI on campaigns around how Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) can be used as a force for good. It is very exciting to be working with a company that is leading the way with FRT innovation, and I have loved learning more about the technology and how it can benefit society.
What is your favourite thing about working at Say?
Despite having never met any of them in person, I love the people at Say. Everyone made me feel like part of the team straight away, even though we were only chatting via Zoom. Every week there are plenty of opportunities to catch-up with the rest of the team, and they do their best to ensure working from home doesn’t leave us disconnected.
By Amy B.
