During my time at university, I took an internship at the UK’s largest student job platform, where I was initially responsible for marketing. After being assigned to a single in-person event, I was tasked with developing from scratch and overseeing the in-person event program for the entire year across the UK. This role involved recruiting and training staff and attending student fairs across the UK – quite exciting for a student! I achieved a 300% increase in sign-ups compared to previous records. This experience was invaluable, it was a clear evidence that I can create a sales script based on human triggers and psychology, teach it, and drastically alter business outcomes.
Through the internship application process, I also won a mentoring session with Roger Mavity (former Chief Executive of Granada Group’s leisure division, later Chairman of financial PR firm Citigate, and former CEO of the Conran Group), who had just published The Rule Breaker’s Book of Business. Overall, meeting someone with such background was a new and very powerful experience, one that left a lasting impact—though I realize now I probably wasn’t mature enough at the time to fully appreciate the chance to gain even more wisdom from him. He shared his views on career options, business, just as strong opinions on the consulting industry, which shaped my views and ultimately also influenced my choice to pursue more unconventional paths.