Your Name (optional): Amey Harding
Male/female: Female
City: Markham
State/Province: Ontario
Country: Canada
Industry: Marketing Agency
Job: President
Company (Optional): Ryan Partnership Canada
Education:
BSc in Chemistry. A University education is paramount to a successful career in marketing. In my current career, a diversified background in sales, marketing and agency management is necessary to manage all aspects of the business.
Training/experience required (years, other jobs):
A diversified background with a minimum of 15 combined years in sales and marketing is advised. Agency experience is also relevant, as it would be difficult to run an agency without first having experienced and managed within an agency. Financial management and computer training is also useful.
Explain what you do:
Create ideas for our clients (customers) that help them sell their products. For example, in the case of a client like Mattel, we develop ideas that help Mattel sell their toys to the toy stores. We also help the toy stores sell the toys to you, by creating reasons for you to buy certain toys (e.g. buy 4 Hot Wheels cars and get one free). In addition, as President of the company, I have many other responsibilities like finding new clients to do business with, assisting the people who work for me, ensuring that we get paid for the work that we do and that the place where we work is a safe and interesting place to work.
Why should kids choose your career path?
Running a marketing agency is fun and very interesting. We have many different projects that allow us to learn new things all the time. We learn a lot about different companies. We get the satisfaction from seeing our ideas help someone else’s business to grow (i.e. when we provide Mattel with great ideas to sell toys, they sell more toys!). We work very hard and sometimes we have to work very long days. The rewards come when a client thanks you for your efforts and asks you to do more work for them. A career in marketing means that you have to have many different skills. You need to be able to get along with people, to understand what they want from you, you need to learn about their business and still run your own business, to learn to be one step ahead of your client and figure out what they need before they do. You can also earn a good living in marketing.
What would you recommend career wise and how should kids approach/develop their preparation for a working life?
Try to explore work in areas that you have a real interest in. Work takes up a great deal of time. Finding something that you like, will help you to enjoy the time that you spend at work.
Lessons learned:If you started all over again what would you do differently?
I would have spent more time developing my English and communication skills. Every aspect of work requires communication; so learn how to communicate (explain clearly what you mean to people) early
A favorite anecdote, phrase, or expression relating to business that inspires you:
The customer is always right, even when they are wrong.
Other suggestions or relevant information you would communicate to kids regarding careers in general:
Don’t be afraid to try different things in the beginning of your career. Experience comes from trying different things,