A day in the life of…Marie – Marketing Manager at Torpedo

This time around, you’re in for a treat. Not only will you get an insight into what life is like for a Marketing Manager at Torpedo, you’ll also catch a glimpse into Marie’s previous roles at our company. In her 12 years with us, she’s had the opportunity to wear many different hats (metaphorically speaking though, she doesn’t like hats!) 

What’s your role at Torpedo, and how long have you been here?

I’m currently Marketing Manager, but I’ve been at Torpedo for just over 12 years now and during that time I have been Account Manager, Senior Account Manager, Office Manager and Product Marketing Manager – needless to say, I have sat at many different desks and worked with many different people (especially as we have grown so much since the day I started)!

What exactly does your role entail? Can you run us through what you might get up to today, for example?

A whole range of marketing activities ranging from social media, content creation, website editing and award entries! It’s a varied role and there are always great opportunities to learn new things. 

What tools/resources/people do you depend on to get your job done?

Everyone in the company! I’m very fortunate to be able to work with everyone across the business. In terms of resources, Microsoft Teams, Adobe Photoshop/InDesign and WordPress are constantly ‘open’ on my desktop. 

What do you love most about your job at Torpedo? What’s the highlight of your day?

While I was Office Manager, I actually just generally enjoyed taking care of the Torpedo office and the team… Every aspect from checking on stationery supplies, filling-up/sampling the pic n mix(!), answering the phones and even setting up rooms for client meetings. Organising events like our Summer Party was a real pleasure and great fun to do. 

Marketing-wise, it’s great to see a project through from start to finish – right from the initial idea to reviewing its performance, to see how well it’s done! 

And what do you find the most challenging?

The constantly changing algorithms and parameters of various platforms are a challenge to keep up with – luckily our in-house teams are always on-hand to offer advice. 

Is there a particular piece of work/project that you’re really proud of?

When I was an Account Manager, I got to work on some amazing Adobe campaigns including the migration from the ‘boxed’ product to the current cloud version. But one of my favourites has to be a channel incentive campaign called ‘Escape to South Africa’. I was really encouraged to get creative with the design and plan all aspects of the campaign, plus it was very successful for the client so it was a win-win all round.

What did you see yourself doing when you were a kid?

Funnily enough I recently found my National Record of Achievement (showing my age now) and at 15 years old my long-term goal was “to work in an advertising company as I enjoy designing”…. 

If you weren’t a marketing manager, what do you think you’d be?

I love stationery so maybe product development at Paperchase?! Within Torpedo, definitely Office Manager – I loved that role. The organisation side mixed with routine/ad–hoc jobs really appealed to me – and maybe the stationery cupboard had its appeal too! 

What made you choose this career path? How did you get where you are today?

I studied HND Business Management at uni and really enjoyed the finance and marketing modules. So, when I graduated, I first worked as a Finance Assistant (I remember just being so chuffed to get a job after uni). However, after a year, I knew I wanted to have a more creative role, so to help that I started an HNC course in Graphic Design and got a part-time job in a PR agency as Office Manager (and then Account Exec). I learnt so much in those years and really enjoyed working for an agency.

However, I still found I was missing more of the marketing side so I then worked as a Marketing Assistant at an architect’s firm in the centre of Oxford. One day I was reading an Oxford Business Magazine in reception and came across an interesting looking agency called Torpedo. I checked out the website – saw they worked with Adobe and sent my CV in. The rest, as they say, is history. 

When your OOO is on, what are you likely to be doing?

I’ll be looking after/refereeing/chauffeuring my two young children, going for a run or fuelling up on caffeine! 

What’s your favourite memory of working at Torpedo to date?

I have so many great memories of working at Torpedo! The many social events including some fab Christmas dos, summer parties and our 15th birthday at the Gherkin. Awesome office playlists (debatable I’m sure some will say), charity challenges, animal balloons, a team effort in setting 500 sports watches to the correct time within a super tight deadline(!) and the then Prime Minister David Cameron visiting our office! Too many to mention them all here but I have to say I’ve also made some amazing ‘friends for life’ at Torpedo too.

What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever been given?

“Never be afraid to ask questions” and “no idea is a bad idea”. You never know how the conversation could develop following a seemingly questionable suggestion.