This November sees the 20 year anniversary of BU gaining university status. What better way to mark the occasion than through a look at some of our School of Tourism graduates from the past two decades?
Jihong Fu
MSc Events Management – 2011
As an international student, I treasured a lot of my time to live and study in BU. Although I can’t boast that I’ve made the full use of my university life, I did try my best. I’ve learned and experienced so much in the past year: I enjoyed the inspiring lectures, the group works with arguments and communication and all sorts of social practice such as volunteering. Besides, I’ve learned how to get over the culture shock and live happily and independently in a new country, make friends here and be part of the community. Now, facing the real world outside the campus, I’m still working hard with dreams and beliefs. Time flies, but what life taught you will always be with you.
Lydia Ward
BA (Hons) Events Management – 2010
Originally from south Devon, I moved toBournemouthin 2006 to study for a four year event Event Management degree. During these years I met and worked with some fantastic people and was lucky enough to make many great life-long friends. In 2008 I moved toLondonfor a placement year at The Royal Society of Medicine’s event venue,One Wimpole Street. In 2010, having completed my demanding final year at Bournemouth University, I relocated back to London to work for Banks Sadler, a market leader in the Events Agency industry. Having lived inLondonfor two years, the fresh air of Devon called me back and I moved toExeterto work for a large national company. My job now incorporates event management and business support and has great scope for career progression.
Ross MacLeod
BA (Hons) Leisure Marketing – 2005
After graduating I swiftly disappeared to Canada for the snowboard season; I had planned this as part of my gap year following four years studying in Bournemouth. This single gap year turned into four, and I found myself spending time in Borneo working as a dive instructor, beach lifeguarding inNew Zealandand travelling aroundSouth America. This adventure was linked with annual summer returns to the beaches ofDorsetwhere I worked as a beach lifeguard for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, a job which opened the door to being able to utilise my Leisure Marketing degree.
In 2010 I was given the opportunity to work at RNLI headquarters inPoolecovering a maternity leave over the winter. I worked hard for the six month secondment and was pleased when the position was made permanent. Nearly three years on I’m still with the charity, working on safety prevention campaigns to keep the British public safer around the coast.
My advice to graduates would be don’t rush for the ‘grown up’ job – it will find you soon enough, make sure you’ve enjoyed yourself first!
Lynsey Holbrook
BA (Hons) Leisure Marketing – 2002
Following graduation in 2002, I moved toLondonand returned to Jardine Communications, my placement year employer and specialist motorsport PR agency. I worked across national motorsport properties before being seconded toShanghaiin 2004 to manage BAT’s Chinese market activation in the build up to the inaugural Formula 1 China Grand Prix.
In 2006, I moved to Momentum Worldwide’sLondonoffice as Account Manager on Intel’s sponsorship of the BMW Sauber Formula 1 Team, progressing through the agency while building a specialism in international sponsorship activation for the likes of Nokia, Mobil 1 and most recently UPS, for whom I led the integrated activation of their groundbreaking London 2012 Logistics partnership.
In my new role of Sponsorship Director,UK, I am tasked with leading the sponsorship department’s growth strategy in the post-Olympic marketplace and establishing MomentumUKas the agency’s centre of excellence for international sponsorship strategy and execution. MomentumUK’s sponsorship client group includes American Express, UPS, Mobil 1, UNICEF, Ricoh and TAM Airlines.
Right now, there isn’t a job on the planet (in Marketing anyway…) I would rather be doing, but when I’m not working I really haven’t grown up at all – it’s all about a good time with friends – preferably in sunnier climes.