Anna spent her final year at Bath juggling both her digital marketing business and university studies, before taking the leap towards running her business full time.
Today, Edie.One, a digital marketing agency that Anna co-founded with her twin sister, has worked with small businesses, startups and investment funds, to help establish their online presence and brand identity.
Read on for Anna’s story.
Why did you choose to study at Bath?
I chose Bath because it was the number one university for marketing – so I knew it would provide good business opportunities.
Sport has always been a big part of my life – I used to run competitively – so I also loved the Sports Training Village and competitive sports on offer.
I also liked the idea of a city university with a campus. The university just seemed to tick most of my boxes.
My older sister was already studying there, and my twin sister put Bath as her first choice, so it immediately felt familiar. It meant my sisters and I could all be together in one city, at one university, which was comforting following our move back to the UK after 12 years in Switzerland. It just made sense, and most importantly, it felt right.
Did you have a particular career in mind when you chose your course?
Since the age of five, entrepreneurship was always encouraged in my home, so I thought I’d eventually take that path.
I wanted to keep my prospects open, so I chose management with marketing. Studying marketing at Bath enabled me to specialise in a particular business function.
Can you tell us about your experience of studying here?
I’m very fond of my time at Bath – everything from the social life to the city and my course. Despite spending 95% of my time on campus in the first year (campus had everything I needed), in my second and final year, I’d visit the city most days.
I loved its quaint, cobblestone alleys and independent cafes. My favourite thing to do was walk around the city and try out different cafes – Cortado is my favourite, even to this day!
The professors on my course were also brilliant. My final year module, Marketing in a Digital World, taught by Professor Jens Nordfalt, covered all things SEO and social media marketing and was my favourite class. I only wish I had learned it all sooner.
My favourite memories were made in my final year when I had a close circle of good friends, lived in the city centre and knew all the best places!
How did your studies help you to develop, professionally and/or personally?
Studying at Bath taught me a lot about time management and prioritisation. I was juggling multiple responsibilities: university studies, regular gym sessions, working at the STV, running my business and trying to squeeze in a social life. Despite feeling like my head was just above water for a long time, I always pushed myself to take on more. I did struggle at times, but it made me realise what I’m capable of, and what is and isn’t worth my time.
University also made me consider the balance between work, social life and health. Ultimately, I realised that fulfillment is the goal of life and it’s all about making decisions that bring you closer to achieving that.
Describe your career journey since graduating. What is a typical day like in your current role?
After graduating, I completed a placement at Pixi Beauty as a marketing intern. It was challenging during the Covid-19 pandemic but taught me a lot about what I do and don’t want in my career. I then went back to university for my final year and, just before graduating, I landed a role in project management at Pablo London, an London-based independent advertising agency. It was honestly a 10/10 company with brilliant people and I got to work on exciting projects, such as the F1 advertising account, but I just wasn’t inspired by the idea of linear career progression.
I decided to resign after six months and work full time on my digital marketing company Edie.One, which I co-founded with my twin sister. Before then, I was working part time on the business during any spare minute on my weekends, early mornings and evenings, which led to burnout.
I started by offering digital marketing to small businesses, then pivoted to startups and investment funds, who I realised were more ambitious to grow and get noticed online, which aligned well with my mindset. Most recently, I’ve led digital content initiatives for a smart home tech startup called Tewke, supporting round-two and three venture capital (VC) funding with educational email campaigns, social media strategies and targeted PR outreach. Who knows where the business will take me next? All I know is that I’m open to every opportunity.
What advice would you give to prospective students thinking about studying your course at Bath?
If you’re on the fence about applying to study management with marketing at Bath, I would highly suggest it. However, I would encourage you to first write a list of your non-negotiables for university and ‘nice to haves’, then compare your options. For me, Bath ticked most of those boxes and that’s how I made my final decision.
If you know you want to specialise in marketing, then management with marketing is a no-brainer. You will get a marketing placement and learn the discipline inside and out. The course will put you on track to become a marketing specialist, desirable to any marketing graduate role.
If you aren’t sure if marketing is for you, I would recommend applying to study international management, particularly if you speak another language and want a year abroad to master it. I’d also recommend business administration if you want a broad range of opportunities (you can also do a semester and placement abroad).
If you’re on the fence about doing a placement or not, do it! I couldn’t imagine graduating and going straight into work with no business experience, job application practice or an idea of what I do and don’t want out of my career.
A placement gives you a whole year to figure all these things out and get a head start on your career, all with the comfort of going back to university in your final year, reuniting with friends, choosing relevant electives and bringing new practical knowledge back to the classroom.
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