These past few weeks have been a massive whirlwind, preparing presentations, visits to multiple agencies and many a tube journey. However, if there has been one thing that has been the staple for my time on the Taylor Bennett Foundation Programme, the word that stands out is NETWORKING.
My Linkedin connections have risen tenfold. A large percentage of these new connections have been alumni of the TBF Programme, having the opportunity to meet so many individuals has been invaluable. We have met both those starting their careers and well-established veterans willing to give us useful advice.
This blog post aims to honour one of the many TBF alumni, Poppy Hemmingway, Account Executive for Spark44.
Who is Poppy Hemmingway?
A University of Leicester graduate in 2018, Poppy was on the Taylor Bennett Foundation Programme in 2019. She then found herself working for Spark44, which is the first global client/agency joint venture. The company boasts two major clients in Jaguar Land Rover and Tetley Tea. Although, Poppy does occasionally work on the Tetley account, its the JLR account where she makes her bread and butter.
I wanted to learn more about the role of Account Executive and the ins and outs of Poppy’s day to day dealing. I came to figure out, like many in the industry, no day is ever the same. For Poppy, tasks can vary depending on various factors. Some days involve dealing with a client, others running social media accounts and often new briefs need to be handled. Poppy’s summary of her role was that of the middle person when it comes to communication between a client and the creative team. For an account, this connection between the two is very critical.
How did you find yourself here?
One of the many interesting things about Poppy’s own TBF alumni story is unlike the majority of those I have met, she is not currently working in the communications/PR sector. Spark44 is a marketing/advertising agency, however, for Poppy, there were many aspects of her job that overlapped with the skills she developed on the Taylor Bennett Foundation Programme. The main focuses on her job tend to centre around social media, online advertising, sponsorships and website imagery, amongst other things. Poppy is the perfect poster child for the ever-blurring lines between marketing/advertising/communications and PR.
What sparked your interest in the industry?
The ability to work in a sector that was able to influence an audience was always important to Poppy. At the University of Leicester, studying Media and Communications helped open her eyes in regards to the various impact of different forms of media. Marketing has allowed Poppy the opportunity to enter a sector which is ever-changing and growing and has helped promote that same development within herself. Despite currently enjoying working in marketing, Poppy would not rule out a move to PR in the future, especially as both industries share interchangeable skills.
How did you discover the Taylor Bennett Foundation?
Some things can only be described as inevitable. Inevitable is the best way to describe Poppy’s discovery of the Taylor Bennett Foundation. Following an initial Google search, Poppy was made aware of TBF, unfortunately, she just missed out on the recruitment period. Fast forward a few months, she rediscovered TBF through Google searches and recommendations from creative job websites. Grasping this opportunity with both hands, Poppy took this as a sign and successfully secured a place on the programme. Alongside getting that helpful push into the industry, Poppy mentioned the gratitude she felt towards the TBF community she was able to join.
What did you learn on the TBF Programme?
During her time with TBF, Poppy was able to learn many useful pieces of information.
ASK as many questions as possible.
Poppy emphasises the importance of asking throughout the experience on TBF as well as moving into your future careers. Whether it’s work or the training scheme, you are there to experience as much as possible. One massive benefit is you are allowed to make mistakes and use them as learning opportunities, which will boost your experience. However, Poppy also mentions the other benefits of asking, like asking to be on a project. Showing proactiveness can make you look good and is a form of active listening that people will take note of.
How was the transition in your career and what does the future have in store?
Rather than finding the transition difficult, for Poppy, the transition was different more than anything. Moving from like-minded, similar-aged individuals, to a being thrown in the deep end, with individuals with potentially completely different experiences than you. This can be a big shock.
However, the TBF programme did provide a lot of experiences that have been useful to Poppy in her transition to full-time employment. The nature of the scheme, meeting different agencies, travelling across London and mirroring a full workday provides the core concepts of work-life.
What is your favourite thing about your job? What are the most challenging aspects?
Monday is a key opportunity for Poppy and her team to discuss their highlight of the week and on/upcoming work. This helps Poppy figure out what needs to be focused on and figure out anything that is missing with the rest of the team.
One aspect of working at Spark44 that Poppy loves is the opportunity to work with such well-known brands. Hearing about the previous work of others and the new upcoming briefs can be very exciting.
A challenge that Poppy faced when joining the team was replacing a well-established member of the team. With how busy everyone was, it was initially difficult to find people to give up time and show her how certain things worked.
How do you balance work and your social life? What do you do in your spare time?
Despite all of the work Poppy has to do, she makes sure to prioritise meeting friends and do as much as possible on the weekend. Since a lot of her friends are back home from university, she’s able to meet them a lot more. She also makes sure to balance work-life with her relationship, making time to see him on the weekends. Surprisingly, work-life balance has been easier than expected for Poppy. For her to do well in a working environment, having a break is critical.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Although Poppy has loved her career so far, the more she works, the more she sees herself becoming her own boss. The opportunities are endless, perhaps she might start her own agency, or figure out what the industry missing and figure out how she can help combat that. If all that doesn’t come to pass, she is not ruling out a move into PR, the goal is to switch up her career and try out as much as possible. Poppy’s future plans don’t stop there, there’s even the potential for a career in television or film production. All the skills she’s building as an Account Executive can truly be translated into numerous roles.
I would like to extend a huge thank you to Poppy for taking the time to be interviewed for my blog. It is always a great opportunity to network with other Taylor Bennett Foundation alumni and to hear about how their careers have developed since completing the programme.
20/20 Vision 