James Neal, a marketing student at Newcastle University with a passion for rugby, football, and golf, recently spent an action-packed week at ThoughtLDR. Here's a glimpse of his journey, which offers valuable insights into the world of ThoughtLDR and our clients.
Interview with James Neal
Q: What were your expectations going into the internship with ThoughtLDR?
James: I was excited to work with multiple clients and gain a real understanding of what it's like to work for a marketing and PR agency. My goal was to learn about the different roles and responsibilities within the agency and see what fits my interests and skills moving forward.
Q: Can you give us a brief overview of your week at ThoughtLDR?
James: Absolutely. My week was filled with a range of experiences, giving me a comprehensive view of the agency's operations:
Monday: I started remotely with an introductory call with Client Manager Shannon and Associate Partner Cat and a task to conduct a news scan for clients like 10x, Bow, and Neural Concept. This task helped me understand the companies, industries, and competitors in greater detail.
Tuesday: I visited the ThoughtLDR Shoreditch office, where I worked on enhancing my own LinkedIn profile using some of the strategies ThoughtLDR apply to their clients’ profiles, conducted desktop research on podcasts for a client opportunity, and worked with a Senior Account Manager to help draft some social media posts. This gave me practical insights into personal branding and content strategy.
Wednesday: Working from home today, I had in-depth calls with Marketing Manager Sade and Associate Director Olly. Sade introduced me to the role of marketing within the agency and the day-to-day tasks. We discussed how a monthly marketing audit is completed, social and web design, and performance marketing. I found this interesting, as it opened my eyes to a new side of marketing. My next call with Olly briefed me for our Cambridge day later in the week to work on some stellar client Swissto12 projects.
Thursday: Attending MADFest with the ThoughtLDR team was the highlight of my week. I listened to industry leaders like Sir Martin Sorrell, who discussed current political events, and Purplebricks’ CMO, who spoke about market disruption. I also heard from the founders of Budgy Smugglers and Lucky Saints, and Roger Wade from Boxpark. Roger’s talk was my favourite; he emphasised the importance of a good product, traffic, and a great team - and gave valuable advice on supporting ESG brands and having an exit strategy.
Friday: Working in the Cambridge Office with Olly, Account Manager Gavin and ThoughtLDR’s Founder, Tamara. With Olly’s guidance, I drafted a blog and talked about my career goals with Tamara. Joining the team on client calls was particularly insightful for understanding business communication and how to build strong client relationships.
Q: What are the key takeaways from your week at ThoughtLDR?
James: I gained a greater understanding of the breadth of skills and roles in marketing and communications - and how agencies deliver outsized impact for clients. I discovered which areas of marketing interest me the most and gained valuable experience working with a great team. The real-world client opportunities and supportive environment at ThoughtLDR made the week both enjoyable and educational.
Q: What did you enjoy the most about your internship?
James: I enjoyed working on real tasks that contributed to the business and its clients. Meeting and working with the ThoughtLDR team was the best part—they were all very helpful and made my time with them beneficial and memorable.
My week at ThoughtLDR highlighted the importance of hands-on experience, the value of industry events, and the impact of a strong agency support.
If James’s experience has sparked your curiosity about joining the ThoughtLDR team, reach out to us at talent@thoughtldr.com.