Charlotte is the Strategic Marketing Manager for the Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO) for the pharmaceutical industry and has recently completed the CIM Diploma in Professional Digital Marketing (L6) qualification.
What was the reason behind choosing to study this qualification?
To expand my knowledge in digital marketing. I worked within the marketing team for a year before I started the course with no formal training in digital marketing. I wanted to understand digital marketing more and expand my knowledge of the techniques to optimise the digital marketing strategy.
What did you discover about yourself in the process?
Balancing work, study and home life during the course was difficult but I felt I was able to work through it all and meet the requirements of the qualification without impacting the other aspects of my life.
Has studying with nesma helped you in your career?
Yes, it has given me the ability to increase my knowledge and implement new activities within my role.
What did you enjoy most about the studying process?
Listening to others and how they implement digital marketing within their sectors. Learning from the experience of others has led to implementing techniques and tactics I might not have considered.
What type of things do you do differently as a result of your studies?
I think about why I am doing something and what I hope to achieve by doing it. I guess I did many activities before without understanding why it was essential and what I could learn from the data I was producing. I now ask myself what I hope to see or achieve by doing the activity rather than just doing it. I take a step back to ensure the route I’m choosing to go down is the correct one for the objective I’m trying to achieve. There are many routes to the same goal, and it’s about choosing the right one.
What words of advice would you give anyone considering a career in marketing/PR?
I don’t have much advice for someone considering a career in marketing/PR, but I do have advice for people changing direction within their careers. I started at Sterling in a very different job role (development chemist), and when I joined the commercial team, I joined as a partnership manager. Throughout my time in the department, I was asked to join different projects, which led me to the role I am in now. I would encourage anyone to say yes to doing something different and outside your comfort zone or training, as you never know where you might end up. The career path you see yourself on now might not be the same one you end up on.
What are the significant changes within your industry at present?
With the global pandemic restricting travel and face to face meetings, there has been a big shift to digital alternatives within the last 18 months, which has included virtual events, virtual tours of our sites and webinars. This change has put pressure on digital marketing to have a suitable strategy for brand awareness within the digital space to attract new customers.
What do you enjoy most when you aren’t doing the day job?
I enjoy walks along the beach (I live in Whitley Bay), yoga and reading (mostly fiction; Thriller, fantasy, horror and romance).
The CIM Diploma in Professional Digital Marketing is aimed at those working in an operational, supervisory or management role who wish to develop their digital skills to enhance their strategic approach.
