From Confused to Curious: How I Discovered Marketing

I didn’t grow up dreaming of a career in marketing or advertising. Both of my parents worked in the industry, so I actually wanted to avoid it.

Like a lot of people, I thought I’d end up in something more “traditional” – maybe a teacher, a hotel manager, even a barrister at one point. Those felt like solid, respectable paths. But none of them really felt like me.

Then something strange happened: I got obsessed with ads. Not just watching them. Really watching them. I wanted to know why they worked. Why did the Guinness “Surfer” ad give me goosebumps? Why did theSony Bravia paint explosions feel weirdly emotional? And how could something as silly as “Compare the Meerkat” make an insurance site so unforgettable?

That curiosity was the start of everything.

I didn’t realise it at the time, but I was already inching into the world of marketing – a place where psychology, creativity, data and behaviour all come together.

My first job in the industry was as a Creative Coordinator. I didn’t fully know what that meant, but I was intrigued. Suddenly I was in briefing sessions, on client calls, helping put together pitch decks. I was hooked. It was fast, collaborative, often a bit chaotic – but I loved it.

The biggest shifts in my career have always come when I’ve said yes before I felt ready. Like the time I had to lead a project I was convinced I wasn’t qualified for. It was terrifying. But it also taught me how to ask better questions, handle tough feedback and trust myself a little more.

Working with brilliant people helped too. Watching how others approached problems, simplified the complicated or knew exactly when to ask the right question – that changed how I worked, and how I thought.

One colleague said something that’s stayed with me:

“Don’t chase being the best in the room - chase being in rooms where you can learn the most.”

Now I’m Operations Director at LOOP Agencies.A creative in-housing agency that works with Regulated Industries. My job is to make sure great work actually happens: at pace, on budget and with the right people doing the right things. We sit where creativity, process and tech overlap. I’m not creating the creative idea/asset, but I’m making sure the space exists where that work and the people delivering the work can thrive.

If you’re just starting out, here’s what I wish someone had told me:

• Curiosity will take you further than a perfect plan.
• Say yes to the stuff that makes your stomach flip. That’s usually where growth is hiding.
• Talk to people. Conversations open more doors than CVs ever will.
• Follow the odd stuff. A podcast, a side project, a weird brief – it might change everything.
• Be kind to yourself. Seriously. No one’s got it all figured out even if they look like they do on LinkedIn.

You don’t need to know exactly where you’re going. Just stay curious. Keep learning. Follow what makes your brain light up.

That’s how I went from confused…to curious.

At LOOP Agencies, we help regulated industries build in-house teams, who in turn create better governance and clarity for your brand. Get in touch to see how we can help you take charge of your brand.

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