We talk to Shelley our Senior Marketing Manager and learn about what she does day to day, the challenges she faces and her personal goals.
What is your job role at We Are Amnet?
I’m the senior marketing manager responsible for planning, leading and executing integrated marketing and communication strategies to meet global growth objectives. My prime area of focus is EMEA but I’m also responsible for overseeing the global marketing operations.
What does a typical day look like?
Usually my day starts at the crack of dawn catching up on emails whilst my kids eat breakfast but once at my desk I usually start the day off on LinkedIn to see what’s been happening in the industry, what my connections have been up to and generally just to be nosy to see if our company page has any new followers.
For me, no two days are the same. As we continue to grow and find new opportunities for the business, my days often vary from project to project. One of my latest projects was the rebrand from Amnet to We Are Amnet including a new visual identity. Something I am still proud of and will be for a long time.
What are some of the challenges you face?
Working in marketing it’s all about showcasing your company’s strength through the work which is produced, whether this is through a case study, samples on our website or social media. Given the nature of our offering (offshore creative production services) we are faced with a lot of NDA’s which refrains me from doing so. Being able to update our content every month is something I don’t have the luxury of doing so it’s often a challenge for me show off the great talent and skills we have globally.
Another challenge I come up against is the negative perception of sending work offshore, in particular creative production. Brands and agencies are protective of their creative and as many misconceptions are still circulating today, so I am educating the market to demonstrate just how much our Smartshoring model does work and how beneficial it could be to their brand or agency.
What do you most enjoy about your job?
The best part of my job is that from day one I’ve been trusted and given the freedom to come up with new marketing initiatives based on what the business needs, whilst working alongside some of the best mentors in my career.
I love that I am part of a growing company where each member is truly valued (and makes sense why we’ve been certified as a great place to work) and although global, how well we all work closely together.
We Are Amnet is truly a big Smartshoring family all thanks to the culture and direction set from our MD, Aashish Agarwaal.
What did you do before working at We Are Amnet?
I’ve always worked in marketing and events throughout my career and fortunately I had the opportunity to set up a successful wedding and events styling business in 2013. However due to a career move in 2015 which my husband couldn’t refuse, I had to close my business after just 18 months to start a new life in NYC. I spent 4 years there exploring and travelling as my visa didn’t grant me permission to work and at that point we decided to start our family there. We moved in 2015 just the two of us and our dog Rex and returned back to London in 2019 armed with nappies (or diapers), baby bottles and 2 little American boys.
Do you have any personal or career goals?
From a personal perspective I am determined to change the mum stereotype and prove to everyone what you can achieve by giving it your all. My boys are both very young (3.5 & 2.5 years old) and often I am asked if I work part time, do I feel guilty that they’re both in nursery full time, is it worth me going back to work with x2 sets of nursery fees and in all honestly it really is. Even more so when you’re part of a great company. Going back into full time work in a field I completely love and an industry I so badly wanted to be part of was a no brainer for me and I am so thankful to We Are Amnet for believing in me, even after my 4 year gap and returning to the UK as a new mother. For that reason I have utmost respect for them and will go above and beyond to be as successful as I can for both the business and myself.
Do you have any hobbies outside of your work?
Before I became a mum I used to do CrossFit, even up until I was 8 months pregnant with my first boy. Now I am lucky if I manage to get to the gym even for 30 minutes a day. But when I am there, I am a huge fan of weight / strength training as it’s great for my body and mind. I also love to swim.
I love all things interior design too and spend a lot of my time rearranging my house / décor and finding new things to complete the look, much to my husband’s dislike.
What was the last book you read/podcast you listened too?
The last sensible book I read outside of girly novels was ‘She’s Back: Your guide to returning to work’ by Deb Khan and Lisa Unwin which was shortlisted for the cmi management book of the year award in 2019. I guess I needed the encouragement and support of women in the workplace after my 4 year gap and would highly recommend this book to anyone who has taken a break, or is looking to ramp up a level.
