What led you to a career in media?

I did an A level course in media studies, one of the modules was advertising and I just really enjoyed it. I was originally torn between media and journalism, but ultimately, I knew I wanted to go into the media field.

I had planned on going to university to study sports journalism, but before embarking on the student life, I took a break and worked at a local bar. I got chatting to a guy who owned his own advertising agency and he offered me a two week trial. I loved it! There were a few familiar faces working at the agency and I must have impressed because they offered me a job. I worked there for 18 months  learning the ropes and my role offered me a great introduction into the world of media. Once I felt that I had found my feet in the industry with a firm starting block, I decided to venture into London which is when I began my 8 and half year stint at MediaCom. From there I worked at other agencies including Kite Factory and Zenith before joining the team at MI Media.

What does a typical day look like?

Well, I don’t need an alarm clock because the kids so kindly wake me up at 5:30. The house is pure chaos: breakfast, getting ready for school, the standard morning drill.

*Kingy pauses… Oh, is this meant to be about my working day?…*

Well in that case, it starts with a morning call with my team which allows me to check-in to see how they are and if their mornings were as chaotic as mine. We address any challenges we may have for that day, check the progress on certain campaigns, what client meetings we have coming up and get a good overview of who is heading up what. Once this is all discussed, my day usually involves speaking to clients and people internally who are working on key projects with my team.

What is your proudest moment at MI?

Hands down winning a Performance Marketing Award in Best Integrated Performance Campaign category with my client Pogust Goodhead. The idea for the winning campaign came out of a random conversation with my main client. What started as  a gem of an idea, ended up becoming reality and not only that, but it became a successful, award-winning world cup campaign which took the client from a DRTV advertiser to advertising on huge sporting occasions. The award process is never easy and entering such a competitive category saw us come up against some huge brands, so we were all chuffed to have won.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about a career in media?  

Come with an open mind. The industry is massively innovative and constantly evolving, so bear that in mind. Every day is completely different and what excites me most about the world of media is that I am still learning, despite working within this field for a few years now.

As we spend most of our waking hours at work, people need to find something they enjoy. Half the battle is waking up and looking forward to your job. If you nail that, you are in for a good run. Media is a fast paced but exciting industry where you get the opportunity to work on cool brands with interesting partners and media owners. You also get to reap the rewards of the social aspects of our industry, from fun events to being out and about at lunches and dinners.

Who would be your dream client to work with?

I am not a massive gamer, but I love the marketing approaches in the gaming industry. From conventional and guerilla media, to the development in tech and AI solutions the gaming sector is forever evolving. Within marketing, you can see the competitive streak shining through as different brands compete with one another. I loved seeing the likes of Travis Scott who collaborated with Fortnite on an in-game experience to promote his track with a concert embedded into the game, that’s pretty out there! That’s what interests me, having a client and sector with an ‘all ears’ approach that is willing to embrace new and exciting concepts and strategies. It’s fresh, it’s cool and it draws people in.

Who is your role model and why?

Learning all the good stuff and bad stuff in life is what makes a well-rounded role model for me. Because of that, I have to say my parents. They have shaped me into the person I am today and remind me to always try to be the best version of myself. If I had to pick a celeb, it would be Harry Kane. I not only idolise him as a footballer, but also for being a great person, a great dad and a true family man. He steers clear of the trouble that other football players find themselves in and what some players are sometimes tainted for: going out partying and getting up to nonsense. He is just an all-round successful good egg!