Your Marketing Big Sister

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Unexpected twists in career paths

Being in the Right Place at the Right Time

Embracing Personal Branding‍ ‍

Tips for Job Seekers in Marketing

Nia’s Feedback about the Job Search Marathon

Real career stories and we’re all ears!

What a delight to have the founders of Blame it On Marketing - Emma Davies and Ruta Sudmantaite - on my podcast and chat about their careers - both the highs and the lows! We’ve also attempted to define and understand fractional marketing (a concept that can feel fuzzy and confusing, yet a viable career path nonetheless), talked about Emma’s own career coaching experience, and much more. Enjoy!

Key lesson learned: "Push back sooner with toxic managers."

Undeniable truth: "Targets are often unrealistic in tough times." So true but why, and more importantly what can we do about it? We talk about it in this episode.

Words of wisdom: "Protect your peace at all costs." Sometimes, it’s ok to cut ties and leave a role that’s taking more than it gives back. Related stories included in the episode.

Emma’s Early Career Lesson: Managing Upwards / Don't let fear prevent you from advocating for yourself and your career goals.

One of the most significant challenges faced by young marketing professionals is managing upwards effectively. Emma recalls a time when she struggled working under a very difficult manager and felt unable to voice her needs and establish firm boundaries - which is not uncommon for new professionals who feel intimidated by senior leaders. Through this experience, Emma learned advocating for your needs is vital for career growth.

Ruta’s Early Career Lesson: The Product-Market Fit Discrepancy

Ruta shares another perspective from her experience working with a Swedish company in the UK. Despite her best efforts, she struggled to sell a product that didn’t meet the market's expectations. Ruta highlighted the critical importance of product-market fit and how external factors can influence your performance. It’s essential to recognise that sometimes, poor results are not a reflection of personal performance but rather a mismatch between the product and its market.

Also, when job searching ensure that the company you’re about to join or apply with sells a viable product or service.

Addressing Burnout in Marketing

We wish it wasn’t so but burnout is a prevalent issue among marketers, made even worse by external pressures such as economic instability and unrealistic expectations. Emma emphasised that, while burnout has always existed, it now has a name, making it easier to identify but not necessarily easier to prevent or manage. Many professionals find that taking time off for mental health reasons is a privilege not afforded to all.

Recognising the signs of burnout early can help mitigate its effects, but the current economic climate makes it difficult for many to step back and reassess their workload.

Be aware of your mental health and prioritise self-care especially during difficult times at work (when we’re least inclined to prioritise our wellbeing).

The Reality of "Doing More with Less"

Ruta points out that this expectation often leads to unrealistic revenue targets, which can create a toxic work environment. Companies need to understand that pushing employees to achieve more without the necessary resources will ultimately lead to dissatisfaction and turnover.

As a marketing professional, you have the option of questioning targets that don’t correspond to the economic realities of the quarter or year you’re in, or to the budget you’re given. Push back on unrealistic targets and excessive demands that set you up for failure.

Conclusion

Navigating your marketing career can be fraught with challenges! But you don’t have to do it alone. Here’s how we can help:

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Career Mishaps

06:07 Burnout and Sustainability in Marketing Careers

12:20 Career Progression and Job Market Realities

15:50 Navigating Career Transitions

19:38 Understanding Fractional Marketing

25:21 Self-Care and Professional Growth

ABOUT RUTA SUDMANTAITE

Ruta is one of the Top 26 Marketers to Follow in 2026 by Girls in Marketing, and Co-Host of Blame It on Marketing.

As the founder of Sudmant, she acts as Fractional CMOs for startups to help them achieve their next revenue goal.

Ruta’s marketing experience includes companies from a variety of fields, from tech start-ups to unicorns and public companies, where she brought her storytelling, brand and demand generation skills.

Connect with Ruta on LinkedIn.

ABOUT EMMA DAVIES

As Co-Host of the Blame It on Marketing podcast, Emma explores the challenges, misconceptions, and triumphs that marketers face. Through candid conversations and actionable insights, the podcast aims to demystify common marketing myths and celebrate the critical role marketing plays in driving business success.

As the Founder of Advocitude and Fractional Senior Marketer, Emma has worked with organisations including Investors in People, Savannah, Appraisd as well as high-growth SaaS businesses navigating everything from early-stage growth to successful exits.

She is also on the Advisory Board of Technology for Marketing.

Connect with Emma on LinkedIn

KEY TAKEAWAYS

- Creativity on a Shoestring: Marketers must find innovative ways to stand out in a crowded marketplace, even with limited budgets. Marie stresses that being meaningful, relevant, and current is essential for success.

- Understanding Audience Behaviour: Given their lack of exposure to the end user, B2B marketing professionals must take it upon themselves to research their audience’s interests and behaviours to inform their campaigns and decisions.

- Creative Expression: There’s a shift in how marketing roles are defined. Marketers can now embrace titles that reflect their unique contributions. This change allows for greater creativity and innovation in how professionals of various kinds present themselves.

What a pleasure and joy it was for me to record this episode with two other alumni of the University of Lancashire - my Alma Mater. My guests have finished their Business studies last July (2025) and were both successful in securing full-time positions soon after graduation.

Meet Lois Turley who now works as an Operations Graduate and Rawan ElGindy - Graduate Student Achievement Officer.

We’ve unpacked the factors and actions that helped them be successful job candidates in a tough job market and I thank them once again for their generosity in sharing their experiences and advice with us all.

If you’re a soon-to-be graduate feeling anxious about the future, then tune in and be encouraged. Lois and Rawan share so many tried-and-tested ideas in this episode.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Say yes to opportunities before you feel ready because the truth is - you might never feel ready, said Rawan. The point of these opportunities is building the confidence you need.

• Lois spoke about embracing the different opportunities that university offers. As a student, she was a Course Rep, did an international internship and joined the Students’ Union. “Putting my hand up and saying, yes, I will do it, meant that a lot of people would then actively find me out” which led to more learning and work opportunities for Lois.

• Try to stand out. For Rawan, this meant turning her portfolio into a personal brand exercise, instead of solely focusing on the projects she completed. Rawan brought it with her to interviews and advises it can be used an asset to open conversations with organisations you’d like to work with.

• Reach out to these organisations directly whether they have positions available or not. “Not for the sake of money or finding a job” adds Rawan “but just to work with them for the sake of learning. So I just asked if I can volunteer, if there's anything I can do just to get involved because I did genuinely believe in their work. And I landed multiple roles [as a result].”

• Emphasise transferrable skills and don’t write off part-time positions (such as barista or shop assistant) just because they seem irrelevant. What matters most is how your articulate the skills you’ve gained and connect them to the role you’re applying for, explained Rawan.

• While volunteering opportunities might be easily overlooked, they are incredible ways of gaining skills that will be valued in a professional context. Lois listed some of the skills she gained as a volunteer: project management, content creation and social media management, understanding budgets, and teamwork/collaboration skills.

• Be active in meetings. Using your voice and sharing your ideas in student meetings prepares you for work meetings with important stakeholders in a corporate environment, highlighted Lois.

“What I would say is just get started, even if it's in your final year, your final month, just get started no matter where you are. And if you can't get a job, look for volunteering or shadowing opportunities, even email someone that inspires you and be like “Is it okay if I shadow you for two weeks just to learn from you?” Try to find a mentor.

Use the Career Services [provided by your university] as early as possible.” Rawan ElGindy, Graduate Student Achievement Officer, University of Lancashire

“The number one thing is to try and figure out where you want to go. Knowing your destination helps you plan out the journey a lot more. So for example, if you don't know at all what job you want to do, go and find someone on LinkedIn who has a job that really appeals to you, and see what got them to that position.

If you have no idea at all, go and take some career quizzes, speak to your friends and family [and ask them] “What do you think I'd be good at”?” Lois Turley, Operations Graduate at Sika

ABOUT LOIS TURLEY

Lois graduated from the University of Lancashire in July 2025 and has gone on to an Operations Graduate role.
While in university, she balanced her studies with hands-on experience in part-time roles, volunteering, an internship, and leadership roles.

Throughout that time, she focused on building practical skills, staying organised, and saying yes to opportunities that pushed her outside her comfort zone.

Those experiences prepared Lois for the job market and progressing in her future role.

Connect with Lois on LinkedIn

ABOUT RAWAN ELGINDY

From navigating life as an international student to becoming a Graduate Student Achievement Officer, Rawan’s career so far has been nothing short of impressive.

While studying International Business, Rawan also held positions in marketing, influencer management, student leadership, and brand development across both the UK and MENA region - with outstanding results (helped build a beauty brand from scratch, and managed an online community of 1.5M+ followers).

In her current role, Rawan supports University of Lancashire students through their academic journey, helping them navigate challenges, build confidence, and reach their goals.

Connect with Rawan on LinkedIn

(it’s what I do)

Visit Meena McDonald’s website to learn more.

For career coaching services, please visit my website: Marketing Career Advice - 1 to 1 Sessions

Download Margaux’s guide: Why marketing isn’t valued and how to change that for more actional advice for marketing professionals.

Iarăși mă doare maxilarul pentru că am zâmbit prea mult! Dar nu se poate altfel când invitata mea este Georgiana Ghiciuc - designer și fondator al brandului de pantofi 💗 MAD Shoes (). Pe lângă acest rol, Georgiana este și vorbitoare a 3 limbi străine, fostă profesoară universitară cu un doctorat în Științe Politice, o specialistă în employer branding și gazda a podcastului The Madgician. Un parcurs profesional și academic impresionant despre care am discutat intr-un episod anterior. De data aceasta insă am povestit despre viața în diaspora, despre integrarea într-o altă țară și cultură, uneori navigând un nou domeniu profesional. Provocarea e mare, roadele pe măsură. Despre acomodare, diferențe culturale dintre România și Germania (și Anglia pe alocuri, prin prisma experienței mele), despre dorul de casă și de părinți am discutat cu Georgiana in cadrul acestui episod atipic (nefiind axat pe carieră).

Am ales acest subiect pentru a împărtăși experiența noastră și concluziile aferente cu românii care se gândesc să se stabilească în străinătate. Dacă rezonați cu poveștile, dificultățile și bucuriile noastre, nu ezitați să ne scrieți. Vă mulțumim și sperăm că această discuție vă este de folos!