Be Your Future

Hey everyone!

Firstly, I’d like to give my apologies for not posting a blog last week! Terrible, I know, it’s been a crazy few days with work and *drum roll* graduation! Finally, I have graduated – more on that later.

The MACHs are reaching the 3 month marker and seriously, I just don’t know where this time has gone, it feels like I’ve been here forever. It’s been an incredible (if steep) learning curve, but definitely feeling as though I am reaping those rewards of hard work. Along with working on the sponsorship decks for Tech & Gadgets channel and Movies channel (essentially, these identify ad opportunities on the MSN UK sub channels, to encourage advertisers to come and spend with us!), I’ve been developing the Competitor Ad Showcase, to understand where advertisers are advertising, which ultimately helps us to identify whether we are carrying this activity and what share. It’s gone down a treat and the Xbox team in London have requested that I produce something similar for them.  Part of what makes my role unique is that I create my own work and having identified where I can make improvements to what I’m currently producing, has enabled me to work across the division with other teams. Collaborating with other teams gives me a better understanding of the division and of other people’s roles within A&O.

Jenny and I also were asked by the General Manager of A&O UK Andy Hart, to join him in Reading earlier this week to participate in the A&O leadership roundtable – an informal discussion with our MACH peers about our division. It genuinely was a privilege and we presented to our MACH group, introducing A&O, how it fits in the wider business and where we fit into the division. It’s easier to present something as well when you’re so passionate about it. A&O is a great place to begin a professional career and it’s clear that so much time is invested into the MACH program. It’s also great knowing that the energy and ideas the MACHs bring to the business are highly valued!

One of the biggest challenges I have for the month would be the business justification that I have to present to my team on a chosen MSN sub-channel which I will effectively have ownership of. Ultimately, I’ll have to help the business find ways to maintain and grow revenue on it. Having been given a choice of three, I’ve decided on MSN Him. Will it be difficult? Yes. Am I terrified? Probably a little – given the responsibility it carries! But there’s no joy in the job if you don’t like a challenge.

But it’s not been all work. I finally went up to Sheffield this weekend for my graduation (Yes I know what you’re thinking – a graduation in November, what sort of university is that?), but it was fantastic. It went way too quickly for my liking but it was great to see my friends and see what everyone has been getting up to! Although I think I’m slowly coming to the realisation that I can’t party like an 18 year old anymore… my body just can’t keep up with it!

It felt a bit like getting married though, with mom getting fussed about the angle of the hat on my head and complaining that I was wearing my gown as though I was trying to look like Batman. Plus, the nerves you get walking across that stage and praying that your legs and feet work long enough to carry you across without falling straight onto your face.  I’m a bit sad to say I had a stumble coming down the stairs, but thankfully the cameras were already focused on someone else

Dawn E.