What do you do and how long have you been in your current role?
I am the senior event manager for Merlin Events London, delivering events at Sea Life London Aquarium, Madame Tussauds and the London Dungeon. I have worked for Merlin Events in several capacities since July 2010, starting as an operations manager, but I have been in my current role since October 2013.
Where was your first job, and what was the most important thing you learnt there?
After graduating from university at 22 I landed a job as an event co-ordinator at an event agency based in Kingston, delivering public sector events. The most important thing I learnt there was that hard work and dedication get you everywhere, and working in events isn’t as glamorous as it sounds.
How did you get from there to where you are now?
Although my first job in events after graduating wasn’t quite what I had in mind, I put my head down, worked extremely hard and pushed myself to learn as much as possible from the people around me, earning a promotion to assistant event manager after a few months. In this role I was out on-site a lot more at the county’s event venues. This made me realise that delivering events is my true love, which pushed me to apply for the event operations manager role at Merlin Events.
Looking back, did you expect your career path to take the course it has?
I knew from the minute I first worked as a waitress at Anthea Turner’s summer ball as a college girl that the event industry was the one for me, which cemented my decision to study events management at university. I couldn’t have imagined back then though that I would get where I am so quickly. It just shows that hard work and a great team to learn with – and from – are invaluable.
Would you have done anything differently?
There are probably plenty of things I should have done differently over the years, but to be honest I have learnt from any blips along the way and can say they have only made me a better event manager.
Who has inspired you along the way?
It’s probably a cliché but my family have always been my inspiration – my parents and grandparents are all where they are today through their own hard work and determination. They always believe in me and do everything they can to push and support me to be the best I can be. I would also have to say that my boss Michael Aldridge is inspirational too.
Have you ever had a job interview that went particularly well or spectacularly wrong?
My original interview at Merlin Events will probably stick in my mind for eternity. I arrived in the Big Smoke, fresh out of university, to be sat among only men in the most hardcore assessment day I have ever experienced, with X Factor-style eliminations throughout the day. I was successful enough to finally meet Merlin Events’ very own Alan Sugar, Michael Aldridge, in the final interview, and given the job a matter of minutes later – it was an arduous day with very life-changing results.
Is there a piece of career advice you've ever been told that has stuck with you?
Michael’s mantra – never assume anything. That’s the polite way of saying the phrase.
What career advice would you give to your 21-year-old self?
Long and unsociable hours are totally worth it, and don’t rest on your laurels.
How do you relax after a hectic day?
I love a bit of baking, and my produce can often be sampled in the office, from cake pops to mojito cakes. The girls have made me an apron with ‘Burton’s Buns’ printed on it.
Want to share your career story with us as part of the ? Email news editor Samantha Edwards to feature in a future How I Got Here.
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