In this Orientation Marketing agency spotlight series, we speak to Account Manager, Jodie Dixon.
Occasionally, we speak to a member of the Orientation Marketing team to learn more about their roles at Orientation Marketing, as well as what makes them tick.
Today we speak to Jodie.
Tell Us a Little Bit About Your Role At Orientation Marketing.
At Orientation Marketing, I work in the Accounts Team as an Account Manager. This means that I am responsible for the day-to-day running of my clients’ accounts, making sure that we deliver the best possible results on time and on budget. On a daily basis this consists of communicating with clients, liaising with other departments, preparing meeting agendas and notes, leading meetings and speaking with the media and other vendors to achieve the clients’ goals. With the agency structure, I work under the Account Directors, who apply their guidance, leadership and expertise to working with me on strategy and the accounts on a more holistic level.
What does your average day look like?
I always start my day by going through emails, being an agency with international clients there are always requests and questions that have come in during the night, so prioritising the urgent emails is always first on my list. After that, I work my way through my to-do list. This usually comprises of liaising with clients on media deadlines, reaching out to the media for opportunities or stats, invoicing, reporting and preparing for the calls I have that week (or creating meeting notes for after).
During my day I have lots of conversations with other departments to get updates on the state of projects. I like being in the office for this as it means I just have to walk across the room rather than trying to explain myself over email. Basically, no two days the same, so that’s what makes the job so exciting, you can plan but you never really know what’s going to happen when you log on.
How did you come about working in marketing?
At school I really enjoyed sociology and psychology and trying to understand why certain people, or groups, behaved or thought it certain ways. I felt like marketing is the business applied version of that.
I decided to study Marketing at the University of Liverpool and really enjoyed learning about the theories of why people consumed or engaged with products/services, and then seeing that being applied in real life.
After graduation I moved into my first role within PR and Events for an agency specialising in life-sciences, specifically clinical trials. It was so interesting to learn about an industry that is so important for our health but isn’t really known about unless you’re in it. This was also during the COVID19 pandemic, so it felt even more applicable to my life.
Tell us about your best day at the agency so far...
I think it’s been mentioned by other people, but my favourite day so far was 100% the duck hunt that Lauren organised over Easter. Watching everyone run around the office was so much fun and I had only started at the agency a couple of weeks before, so it was a great introduction into how competitive people were when it came to winning chocolate. I hoping it becomes an annual tradition for OM!
What inspires you?
I’m inspired by people and what we can achieve when we work together. I love seeing different people bring their ideas, experiences and perspectives together to achieve a shared goal. I think that’s particularly meaningful in the pharmaceutical sector, where we can see how collaboration can help us make a positive difference to people’s lives though new treatments and therapies.
Recommend a TV series/film you recently watched.
The Other Bennet Sister is amazing and I recommend it to everyone! It’s such a cozy show so it’s great for the upcoming cold and dark nights. I’m so excited for the Christmas special. I absolutely love anything in the Pride and Prejudice world and think it’s such a timeless story. Also, who doesn’t love a bit of yearning every now and again.
What’s your secret talent that no one knows about?
I taught myself how to do the worm when I was about 9 years old and it’s been my party trick ever since. Either that or the splits. It’s like a litmus test to know if I’m getting older so I try it every couple of months just to make sure I’ve still got it. I hope when I’m 80 years old I can still give the worm a good go and not seriously hurt myself. To be honest, it usually goes better after a glass of wine.
What skill do you think everyone should learn?
Taking accountability. I think it’s really important to be able to hold your hands up and say when you’ve got something wrong. We’re all human so we’re going to mess up every now and again, so being able to own that and take accountability is really important, not just at work but in friendships, relationships and life in general.
Having worked in agencies specialising in the pharmaceutical industry from the outset of her career, Jodie brings a wide range of experiences to her role as an Account Manager. Since completing her BA in Marketing from the University of Liverpool, Jodie has worked within PR and events, providing account-based support and management for clients within life-sciences, specifically clinical trials. She is now part of Orientation Marketing’s accounts team, supporting clients to successfully achieve their marketing goals.
For more, find Jodie on LinkedIn.
