Year 8 students at Shireland CBSO Academy took an early look at careers in marketing and advertising when they met Jem Lloyd-Williams, Client President and WPP Media Chief Strategy Officer at Mindshare, one of the world’s leading media companies.
Lloyd-Williams shared his own career journey, charting the experiences that led him into the industry and offering an insight into what working with some of the best-known brands involved.
His message was that career preparation starts well before students are choosing their GCSEs or applying for their first job. Building a strong set of qualifications, gaining work experience and developing an understanding of technology will all be important as they prepare for a changing workplace.
Artificial Intelligence was a particular focus. Students explored how AI is already changing the way organisations work and how developing the confidence and skills to use emerging technology could give them an advantage in the workplace in the years to come.
The session also gave students an insight into the scale of the industry. Established in 1997, Mindshare now has around 10,000 employees across 116 offices in 86 countries, working with some of the world’s leading brands to support sustainable business growth.
At the heart of Mindshare’s work is the use of data and behavioural science to understand consumers and what motivates them, using those insights to help brands connect with people through media. For students, it provided a real-world example of how skills and knowledge from different areas can come together in a modern career.
Academy Principal, David Green, said: “It’s important that our students start thinking about their futures early, not because we expect them to know what career they want, but because they need time to discover what is possible and where their interests may lie.
“Meeting professionals like Jem gives our students the chance to hear first-hand what different careers can look like and to start thinking about the skills and experiences that could help them in the future. These conversations can open their eyes to possibilities they may not have considered before and help them make more informed choices when the time comes for them to decide what they want to do at GCSE and post-16.”
The visit formed part of Shireland CBSO Academy’s wider careers programme, which aims to give students meaningful opportunities to learn about different industries, meet professionals and understand how their education can connect to the world of work. By introducing students to a broad range of careers from an early age, the Academy is helping them build the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their future.
