INTERVIEW WITH IMOGEN PICKTON (ACCOUNT MANAGER AT VERITAS DIGITAL MARKETING)
Personal Journey
WIDD Network: How did you discover your passion for Marketing and what steps did you take to pursue it?
Imogen: Growing up I genuinely had no idea what I wanted to do when I was older, it got to the end of sixth form before I really figured that out. I always knew that I wanted to do something creative as a career, I also enjoyed maths, but I didn’t really know what next step to take. During the pandemic I was studying for my A levels and our work experience week was cancelled. I started to look online, decided to give virtual work experience a go and that is how I discovered marketing. Once I realised that digital marketing was something I was interested in I joined LinkedIn to build my personal brand. Then once my exams finished, I started freelancing and volunteering to build a portfolio. I tried to get as much experience as possible to learn about the industry whilst also watching webinars and enrolling for a level 3 CIM course.
Challenges and Growth
WIDD Network: What has been the most challenging aspect of your career, and how did you overcome it?
Imogen: I would say that the biggest challenge for me was starting to freelance. I’ve never been hugely confident so to start freelancing straight after school with pretty much no marketing experience was scary. I had to show up on social media, promote myself and secure clients which was so far out of my comfort zone. I was learning as I went, and I was lucky to be connected to people further on in their career who had helpful advice to share. That first step isn’t easy for anyone and that’s a big reason why I want to help other marketers who are just starting out.
Whilst it was out of my comfort zone at the start freelancing was the best decision I could have made as I feel like I have grown as a person. I’m glad I pushed past my doubts because I wouldn’t have incredible opportunities like this if I hadn’t.
Mentorship and Learning
WIDD Network: Have you had a mentor who played a crucial role in your career? How did they impact your professional development?
Imogen: I started my career in marketing at eighteen years old and in the first few months I met some incredible women in marketing who I’d genuinely call friends. I can’t name everyone because it would be the longest list but having support and people, I could message in those early days was so helpful for me. I was still young when I joined Veritas Digital Marketing, but I am so thankful to the founder Chloe for taking a chance on me. I’ve learnt so much from working with her and Lidia which I feel has really helped me. I literally couldn’t work with better people and that has been a huge factor in me getting to where I am today.
Diversity
WIDD Network: What's your take on diversity?
Imogen: Diversity is so important in all aspects of life and it’s something I’m currently learning more about. Through my role at Veritas, I’ve become a lot more aware of the lack of inclusion within STEM and it can be quite shocking to see the statistics. We still have a long way to go in terms of equality and inclusion, particularly in the workplace but I do think we can all play a part in raising awareness by speaking up about it.
WIDD Network: What has attracted you to WIDD Network?
Imogen: The WIDD Network is centred around championing DEI and helping women to land roles in marketing and design. When I first started out in marketing so many people were kind to me, and it genuinely makes all the difference. So, I love the idea of having a community of people helping women to succeed and giving them the support that they need.
Industry Insights
WIDD Network: What trends or developments in the industry do you find most exciting or challenging right now?
Imogen: The development that I am a huge fan of is the shift to authenticity driven marketing. When I was growing up Instagram was full of aesthetically pleasing grids and overly edited photos but that just isn’t real life! I love that creators share raw, unedited videos on TikTok now and that on LinkedIn founders and employees feel they can open and share their struggles. It’s refreshing to see people’s personalities shine through and hear about the full story as opposed to just seeing what a highlight reel is essentially.
Advice for Aspiring Professionals
WIDD Network: If you could go back in time and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Imogen: There’s so much talk about imposter syndrome and to be honest even now I still get it. But if I could go back in time, I would tell myself to just go for opportunities and put myself out there because quite often the only person holding you back, is you.
WIDD Network: What advice do you have for young professionals aspiring to excel in Marketing?
Imogen: My advice would be to build your personal brand. I know it can be tough to get your first marketing role and sometimes a CV doesn’t really do you justice. If you can create a personal brand and get your name out there this conveys who you are and what you’re capable of much better than a piece of paper ever could. It also helps you to form connections in the industry, gaining support and advice throughout not only a job search but your whole career journey. I can’t recommend personal branding enough!
Legacy and Future Goals
WIDD Network: How do you envision the impact of your work in the long term, and what legacy do you hope to leave?
Imogen: I would love to make young people going into marketing feel like they can do it and provide them with the advice and resources I wish I had when I was starting out. Through my work at Veritas Digital Marketing, I’d also like to advocate for women and play a part in helping to make STEM a more accessible industry for younger generations.
Personal Insights
WIDD Network: Outside of work, what hobbies or activities bring you joy and recharge your creativity?
Imogen: I spend a lot of time on social media haha, I love running my own socials and writing my newsletter. I enjoy going on walks and feel like as someone who works remotely it’s nice to get outside for breaks, particularly in the warmer weather. I’d say my biggest hobby is painting my nails, I love it! Anyone who knows me will know my nails are always painted and I love looking for inspiration on Pinterest.
WIDD Network: Is there a mantra or guiding principle that you live by in both your personal and professional life?
Imogen: I like the idea that everything happens for a reason and that any setbacks are just part of your journey to something better. When things don’t go the way, you want it can be so easy to focus on the negative and see the bad in the situation. Sometimes a setback is just a push for you to change direction and you don’t see the positives until you’re looking back on it. It sounds so cliche to say things happen for a reason, but I think adopting that mindset allows you to look at the bigger picture and see the good even in bad situations.
WIDD Network: Who inspires you (your inspirational woman or man (alive or not)?
Imogen: I’d say my loved ones are my biggest inspirations. My friends and family have supported me in my career every step of the way, even back when I had no idea what I wanted to do. Having support and encouragement from the people you care about the most is so important. My Nan is the kindest person I know, she’s genuinely so lovely to everyone and that is inspirational for me as I’d love for others to see that quality in me.
WIDD Network: What’s your favourite quote?
Imogen: A couple of quotes that I really like at the moment are:
“Your direction is more important than your speed.”
“Everything comes to you at the right time.”
Connect with Imogen on LinkedIn
Do you have interesting experiences and would want to be featured? Send us an email at ‘hello@widdnetwork.com’ with the subject “Interested in sharing my experiences’.
