Careers at c3

Hear from Libby Windle, Group Head of PR

What do you do at connective3?
I’m Group Head of PR – I oversee our Leeds and Manchester PR teams. My main role is to oversee the team including review processes, resourcing, hiring, the running of 121s, and career development such as goal setting, etc.

I also oversee our clients and work closely with the team to make sure the right client strategies are in place and KPIs are being met, as well as supporting new business opportunities.

What is your favourite aspect of the role?
Supporting and growing the PR team to the best of my ability. I love being able to implement new processes that benefit the development of the team and ensure each individual is fulfilled at c3 and within their role.

What advice would you give to someone looking for a job in PR?
Do your research on the agency and the team prior and genuinely only apply for the role if you think the agency and the role are 100% for you. There’s nothing worse than interviewing someone who has quite clearly sent their application to 100 other different agencies.

What advice would you give your younger self?
To not take criticism as a negative and if anything, welcome it. Welcome constructive feedback over positive feedback wherever possible, as there are more learnings to take. Plus, it doesn’t do anyone any good if they’re constantly getting complimented about what they’re doing right, as we can’t learn or progress from this feedback.

Best c3 moment
Being mentored by some of the best in the industry and because of this, winning the Rising Star award at the Digital PR Awards! Very thankful to everyone I’ve worked with and learnt from.

What’s the book you’d recommend to read and why?
I read Jay Shetty’s ‘Think like a monk’ on my honeymoon and honestly, it changed my perspective on a lot of things including overcoming negative thoughts and habits as I’m the world’s worst overthinker. It also gives great insight into creating effective morning and evening routines, perfect for those who struggle to switch off (again, like me). The book is amazing and I recommend everyone reads it.

Hear from Digital Project Manager, Tom Lanaway

How did you get into digital?
I started my digital career as a Multi-Media Producer creating virtual experiences, video, photography for UK Universities to help drive conversions in the prospective student journey, it was great but I started to feel like I only understood a part of the marketing funnel. I decided to broaden my digital experience which is when I came across connective3 who gave me an opportunity to learn and develop my skills.

What is your favourite aspect of the role?
My role isn’t confined to one particular department so I have lots of opportunity to connect with brilliant minds across different services, whilst helping to produce highly creative and innovative campaigns.

What’s your best failure?
Ah, a tough one. I would say it was working in the wrong industry for too long. I started my career in a very corporate business where integral values, diversity and creativity were shunned in favour of profits and needless conformity (profits are important, but not at the expense of purpose). However, it drove me to find business where these things are empowered, which I’m glad to say I’ve found here at c3.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
A multitude of places, but mainly from my ‘Second Brain’ where I try and capture everything that I’ve ever consumed that’s either inspired me or changed my perspective on a topic, that could be a conversation I’ve had with a colleague or something I’ve read online. Sometimes I discover things I saved years ago that didn’t have a purpose then, but helps me solve a problem in the present.

What does your day-to-day role look like?
The main aspect of the role is trying to mitigate risks that may impact delivery and subsequently results of a campaign/project. This involves a lot of communication with various campaign leads to understand the status of a project and where there may be barriers we can try and navigate around. It also involves scheduling work and managing resource evenly so everyone has work that is manageable so they can produce it to the best standard without risk of burning out.

I also allocate half a day per week to L&D which could be coding, paid media or learning about new productivity methodologies.

What or who has been the best influence on your career?
Tiago Forte the creator of ‘Building a Second Brain’ and who’s life mission is to answer ‘How can humans reach their creative potential?’

Favourite thing about the c3 Leeds office?
People, pool and pizza. (Least favourite is the Ping Pong table as I’m constantly losing)

Best c3 moment
Oh my, probably the Halloween costume day and attending serious meetings with Spider Man, Dracula and (where’s) Wally.

What’s the most exciting campaign you’ve worked on to date?
RSCPA x thortful – Christmas Recipes for Pets, we produced a booklet with had a Christmas starter, main and pudding for dogs, cats and rabbits!

What’s the book you’d recommend to read and why?
Conscious Business (Fred Koffman) – it’s an inspiring guide on how profits and ambition can consciously coexist with purpose, mutual respect across all stakeholders (no matter seniority), social responsibility and ultimately happiness.

Best investment of your time you’ve ever made?
A career break to travel SE Asia, Australia and New Zealand., it allowed me to see new perspectives and influenced my outlook on how to lead a happy and healthy lifestyle.

Hear from Paid Media Manager, Charlotte Sharpe

What do you do at connective3?

I am a Paid Media Manager.

What is your favourite aspect of the role?

My favourite part is that every day is completely different, paid media, in general, is very varied and that’s what is so exciting – one moment I can be setting up a new PPC campaign, then onto a client meeting and the next planning for the next quarter’s roadmap.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

My colleagues/managers. I’m very, lucky to work with such an inspiring and talented group of people, and they constantly inspire me to always do my best.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Don’t be afraid to fail. Trying and making mistakes is what helps us to be our best selves.

Favourite thing about the c3 Leeds office?

Hands down the prosecco tap.

Best investment of your time you’ve ever made?

Taking the time to learn shortcuts within Excel and how to jazz up a presentation! Excel and PowerPoint are two softwares I use very often and it was well worth the time investment.

Hear from New Business Executive, Robin Witts

How did you get into Digital Marketing?
I started my journey into digital with a digital marketing apprenticeship at an agency in Derbyshire, I learned the fundamentals of marketing and why each department of an agency is important. My apprenticeship allowed me to understand which parts of digital were and were not for me, as well as showing me what an office job could be like for me as I never once imagined that I would spend my day sat at a desk. Marketing has allowed me to realise that a desk job is not all doom and gloom and can be entertaining, rewarding and most of all fun. I put it all down to my apprenticeship and think they are a great way to get into digital marketing

What do you do at connective3?
I am a part of the New Business team at connective3, which means I speak with companies that we think need some help improving their marketing, as well companies from industries we have proven success in, to basically ask them if they need any help as well as giving them suggestions in the areas that we think they can improve in.

What’s your favourite aspect of the role?
I really enjoy every event that I get to go to, especially our own Digital Bites. Interacting with people face to face, talking about all things digital while expanding my network is really fun for me. I also feel a sense of pride that I get to be part of a team that gives people with little to no public speaking experience a platform to talk about what they are passionate about.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start out in a career in digital marketing?
In digital marketing I have found that it is quite easy to become a Jack of all trades master of none, so I would say find your niche and run with it, once you have mastered that area of marketing explore other avenues that interest you.

Best c3 moment?
My highlight so far would probably have to be my first time on a stand at BrightonSEO. I went to BrightonSEO during my apprenticeship, and it was lovely to look back at how far I have come in my career (a kid that didn’t know much about digital to being on a stand answering questions to major brands). We also had lots of fun as a team outside of the event and a 7-hour car journey home gives you a fantastic chance to get to know your team while you listen to a Harry Potter audiobook.

Favourite thing about the c3 office?
The office is amazing. Sounds cringey, I know, but we are really taken care of at c3, from pool and ping pong, to Peroni and prosecco taps. I honestly couldn’t pick one thing I love most about the office but I think it says a lot about not only the office but the culture, that there will always be people to spend time with in the office until 6 or 7 O’clock every night.

Hear from Head of Marketing, Frankie Bisi

What do you do at connective3?
I am Head of Marketing at connective3 meaning I work on events and internal marketing campaigns to promote the agency to potential clients, employees, and the wider digital industry as a whole. A key part of my role is focussing on agency brand development and making sure we stay ahead of the curve on all channels to ensure the agency grows.

What is your favourite aspect of the role?
A big part of my role is not only attending events all over the country, but also planning and running them for the agency. I’m really passionate about in-person networking and knowledge sharing, especially in the North. I’m originally from Scarborough and have worked at northern based agencies for six years and I think it’s so important that there are events happening outside of London.

What does your day-to-day role look like?
My role is so varied and I work on lots of different projects across the whole digital marketing spectrum. My main day-to-day tasks include writing and scheduling social media content, designing assets, working on award entries, building new case studies, planning events, managing our website and editing new blogs.

What advice would you give your younger self?
I think there’s a lot of pressure to know exactly what you want to do as soon as you graduate or when you turn 21 but it’s okay to not have everything figured out and fail along the way. Sometimes you need to try different roles and different companies to find the right company for you and understand what you’re passionate about.

Best c3 moment
Definitely getting picked to take part in our yearly volunteer abroad scheme for 2023. The scheme is fully funded by c3, and you get to volunteer anywhere in the world for a charity of your choice. So, this year I’ll be heading to Nepal for two weeks to work with local charities on projects dedicated to gender equality and female empowerment, which is something I’m very passionate about, so I can’t wait to get started planning the trip!

What’s the most exciting campaign you’ve worked on to date?
Last year we launched our Digital Bites event, and it’s something I loved working on and I’m excited to grow the event this year. The event runs in both Leeds and Manchester and helps give new speakers a platform to get into public speaking. We ran three editions of the event last year, welcoming 18 new speakers to the stage, to a total audience of over 500 people. We’re going to be relaunching the event for 2023, bigger than better than last year, and I can’t wait to see where it’s going to go in the future!