WElcome to our new blog series - How I got here.
Having recently supported the UK Creative Festival chatting to young people and students about the crazy world of events and the career opportunities it can offer, it inspired us to share our team's stories of how they ended up in the industry and for them to share more about their current role and offer any hints or tips they may have.
The series will feature each member of the Hyphen team with a purpose to hopefully inspiring the next generation of #eventprofs and also those considering a role/career change. Finally, it will also give you the chance to get to know each of them a little better too :)
So we will kick things off with our Head of Account Management – Liv Brannigan.
Liv’s role involves taking responsibility for the business operations of Hyphen. This includes taking ownership of the agency commercials, the management of the Account team and ensuring our output is on track. Being part of a wider agency, she is also responsible for integrating the Hyphen team into the organisations business systems and processes amongst many other things.
We asked Liv to talk us through her career to date and to offer any advice to the next gen' or peers along the way:
Let’s start with education which is always one of the questions we regularly get asked, i.e. do you need to do an events management degree etc:
I went to Exeter University to read Law. The plan was to become a corporate lawyer, but when I was there, I needed a job and started doing promotional work for Red Bull as a Student Brand Manager. I loved it! I spent my weekends travelling to events all over the South West energising people. That led to working in their head office during the holidays, which enabled me to see more about what went into making events. I then finished my law degree, but rather than taking up a legal training contract, I moved into Red Bull's event team and never looked back.
Tell us a bit more about that first events job and what you learnt and or changed ahead of your next industry role:
My first job was as an Event Manager at Red Bull in the early 00's. I organised a lot of their events that were filmed for Channel 4. Red Bull were leading the way with 'brand building events' and I learnt so much about the power of events to build brand awareness, build affinity and also to create content.
And from there - what was your next move?
I went into the world of agency, and have to say - never looked back.
What was the best event/activation you have worked on and why?
I have been so lucky to work on so many amazing events and activations over the last 25 years - the pro's of working for an agency! The one that stands out the most is probably Skyride Manchester 2009 for Sky and British Cycling. It was the first of series of events that would then run for 4 years up to the 2012 Olympics with the idea of inspiring 1 million more people to start cycling. I was the Account Director and led the project through to that first event and for the next two years, managed the relationships between Sky, British Cycling and the local authorities to deliver what was then an unprecedented event.
Who would you say is the best client/brand you have worked with and why?
Sky Broadcasting. They weren't always easy to work with but they really invested in experiential and events with a vision of pushing boundaries constantly. Their CSR programme really stands out as a highlight. We closed down cities as part of Skyride, opening them up to cyclists for the day. We put a rainforest on the roof of Westfield London in support of WWF and Earth Hour. In my later years of working with them, we started to build permanent installations to inspire school aged children about opportunities within broadcasting, designing an experience where as a class, children could create their own TV show.
Why do you choose to work in the industry and what gets you out of bed in the morning?
I rather fell into the industry, and once I got here, I quite enjoyed it! Back at the beginning of my career it was the adventure, the unknown and the people I collaborated with. I spent a lot of time working in music sponsorship in my 20's so it was also often the opportunity to be at lot amazing concerts!
Can you share your fave podcast and or book which has helped your career or outlook/mindset?
How to Fail by Elizabeth Day. Listening to others face into and learn from failures, and normalising it has been really motivating for me.
What was the best piece of advice you were given in your career?
If you don't like it, change it. If you can't change it, change the way you feel about it.
What advice would you give to someone looking to get started in the industry?
Learn from everyone and everything! There are so many uncontrollables in events, the wider your thinking and knowledge, the better chance you have of finding the best solution.
One thing you wouldn’t do again
Lose sight of my personal boundaries.
Tell us who would be your dream client?
For me, it's less about the brand and more about the people I work with. A dream client works in partnership, collaborates amongst teams and shows respect for all.
