ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Are you feeling pressured to fill out your UCAS application and follow the traditional university route to start a successful marketing career? If sitting in a lecture theatre for another three years sounds like your absolute worst nightmare, this episode is exactly what you need to hear. In this episode of Behind the Future, we sit down with Helen Banyard, one half of The Good Stuff group, to talk about her incredibly wiggly path from answering phones to founding her own brand consultancy.
Helen's story is the ultimate proof that you don't need a degree to make it big. In fact, she decided uni just wasn't for her, leaving her girls' grammar school after Year 12 to finish her final year at college, whilst turning her Saturday job at Safeway into a full-time role. When she told her mum she wanted to go into advertising, she was met with doubt, but she didn't let that stop her. She secured a role answering phones and sending faxes at a small radio production office. By acting like a sponge, staying endlessly curious, and simply saying yes to every opportunity, she worked her way up from an account executive all the way to running an entire agency for seventeen years!
We dive deep into the reality of networking, which Helen admits she used to absolutely hate, especially the awkwardness of standing around a table of beige food. She shares a game-changing piece of advice that completely flipped her mindset: stop trying to talk about work, and just focus on making a friend. We also discuss why the soft skills you already have, like making eye contact, holding a conversation, and showing your true personality, are secretly your biggest superpowers when attending interviews or trying to break into the industry.
If you are stressing out about picking the perfect path or feeling lost about your next steps, Helen reminds us that you don't need to have your entire marketing career figured out right now. She didn't even realise she was officially a brand "strategist" until she was in her forties! Whether you want to build a lasting marketing career or just figure out your next move, tune in to discover why bringing your authentic self to the table is the ultimate secret to success, and why every random job you take is secretly building the exact skills you need for your future.
Behind the Future is a podcast for the next generation of digital talent, offering weekly interviews, real-world insights and career advice. Subscribe for more conversations like this, and follow us on TikTok and Instagram @aspirationdigital.
Hosts: Becky Simms & Bella Ashlee
Guest: Helen Banyard
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