Name: Mimi Proudlock
Age: 25
Job title: Marketing manager
Company & location: Press London, Soho
Education: University of Exeter, Business & Management
Why did you decide to go for a career in food? After doing a job that I was miserable in and felt so disconnected from, it was clear to me that I had to do something I was truly passionate about and proud to be a part of. For me it was the health foods industry that excited me the most. I have always viewed food as an essential fuel for the body and mind and I know the importance of putting the right stuff in, to get the best out. I wanted to be able to help communicate that to others, and in some small way, make it easier for people to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
Explain your job to us in a sentence (or two): Get the word out about Press! We believe everyone deserves to be happy, and a big part of that comes from what you put into your body. It can help improve mood, sleep, skin, performance, mental stability and so much more, so making sure people know how our products can help is the crux of what I do.
What does a typical day look like for you? As a business, we have three channels: online, our own retail sites and commercial sales. My time is typically spent formulating marketing campaigns and strategy across all three of these channels. That includes catching up with our amazing nutritionist, Lily Soutter, and working with our product development team to hear about what products we have in development (one of my favourite parts of the job). I am also responsible for partnerships and collaborations, so I speak with a lot of brands to put together exclusive launches, events and other campaigns.
Tell us about how you went about applying for your job. I applied for an internship as I was desperate to get my foot in the door. It was a bit of a gamble going from a full-time job to an internship. This was a one-stage interview with Ed, our founder, and the marketing manager. We got on really well and I started as soon as I worked the notice of my previous job. The nice thing about starting off in an internship meant it was a bit like a trial both for me and for Press. Luckily, it went well and I was asked to stay on full time.
“Be hands-on and the first to put out any fires and soon enough you’ll make yourself indispensable”
What’s the best part about working for a food company? I love learning about new trends in the health foods industry. I feel very lucky to be able to learn about this as part of my job and be involved in these conversations. It’s also amazing to see the positive impact we are having on the lives of people who are using our products. I sometimes look through our customer feedback, and some of the messages we get from our amazing customers are so inspiring. It pushes us all to keep making nutritious products that will positively impact people’s lives.
The people that I work with are also a huge highlight. The team at Press are amazing and I feel lucky that I can call them all friends. I guess it attracts likeminded people.
And what’s the biggest misconception people have about working in food & drink? That everyone working in the industry is a food snob?
What advice would you give to other young people looking to get into the food & drink industry? There are loads of amazing, innovative food and drink companies opening up all over the place. I think starting somewhere small means you can learn from all sides of the industry in a short period of time, as you’re thrown into the deep end. Be hands-on and the first to put out any fires and soon enough you’ll make yourself indispensable.
What’s your ultimate career dream? I’ve got the travel bug. I’ve wanted to live abroad for a very long time so I think it might be on the cards at some point. I’ve also always wanted to start my own business, so maybe I’ll combine the two… watch this space!
