ABOUT

Tell us who you are!

Russie, 26, Jr Strategist for McCann London.1/3 of Fax no Printer and dyslexic.

So what do you actually do?

Everything insights, research and stratergy.

What has your career path been?

I dropped out of 6th form due to mental health and battled with it for years since. Then I got an apprenticeship with children as I wanted a qualification but disliked kids. I taught myself how to sew and jumped into a garment tech apprenticeship. I worked at M&S and ASOS, both menswear in garment technology. I found the fashion industry wasn't fulfilling me and took a really bad toll on my mental health, so I quit.

No job as a backup but as it was only my last week of work, I found out I received a place on the D&AD New Blood Shift course. It's a free advertising course for people of all ages without degrees. The best choice I've ever made.
Whilst studying on the course, I used my other self taught skills to work part-time as a freelance hairstylist for the likes of Skepta, Nike, London Fashion Week and more.

Towards the end of the course in January 2020 people were recommending me to be a copywriter due to copy ability that was presented. However, this wasn't for me. After explaining to my classmate that I have a passion for research, planning, data, and unpicking briefs, she told me that my passion was the skills for a Strategist.

Once the course was complete, then came the pandemic and I was lucky enough to get a paid job at a start-up called NCA as a CX Strategist. After 6 months I moved on to McCann London to further my skills in a bigger company, to experience the differences.

Overall I've found that I've had to manage my work life with my mental health. I've learnt that transparency is key. Articulation of this can come in 101 different formats. I've had to find my voice and put it first with my mental health in order to do the best job I can do and it's worked!

What is the best part of your job?

Without a doubt, it would be having my viewpoint valued and realising that advertising is more than adverts.

It can create change and lead conversation at all levels.

Why do you do your job?

I love researching, asking questions, getting people to challenge their thoughts, data and being creative.

I do my job because it’s pretty much the same skills I love using in my every day life.

One piece of advice for someone starting in your role?

Speak up and ask questions. You were not hired to have all the answers and never devalue your worth.

Any parting words?

Regrets and safety nets only get you so far, take the risk whilst looking after your mind.

Check out Russie’s Instagram below!

DAY IN THE LIFE

A typical day varies within advertising.

It would start around 9am. I would open up Teams to see if there was any pending messages sent. I would open up my emails to see what come in and I would then prioritise my day/ week.

Client work / external work will always be prioritised. I'm currently spread across two clients. This may be the occasional early morning meeting with an international client, creative review, a briefing meeting etc. I would sit in these meetings and support the creatives in creative reviews after the meetings. In briefing meetings, I would work with a more senior strategist and help build decks / write briefs on how to address their requests.

Say it was a quieter week. I would usually create/ update the team on new interesting activations and campaigns, client work, insights that have come through 3 times a week.

I also manage connections and relations between our subscription platforms and work on ways for the team to carry on utilising efficiently.

In between the above, I would have taken a lunch break as it's important to make time away from the desk.

Throughout the day I may be asked if I have time to help out others. Towards the end of my day, I would have planned/ blocked out what upcoming tasks I have for the next day. However, more times than less you play the day by ear and have to be reactive to what requests come in.