Tanya -Major Players – Getting Ahead

Name: Tanya Roxburgh
Company: Major Players Ltd
Job title: Head of Digital

 

What made you want to get into marketing?
Following my economics degree, I knew that I couldn’t work in the city or wear a suit! I wanted to work in something creative and with inspiring, innovative people.

How did you get into the industry (including relevant qualifications and professional training)?
Recruitment training on the job! Also, having worked on the other side of the fence in a branding agency, I can really empathise with agencies and candidates alike as to what they really need. Being able to consult and advise with inside knowledge is a real asset.

• University of Nottingham – Economics BA
• 4 A ‘Levels

What was good and bad about your first job?
My very first job was in a pub – Good: free drink! Bad: bad chat-up lines from punters!

List your jobs to date:

• Head of Digital – Major Players
• Digital Rec Consultant – Gabriele Skelton
• Digital PM/AM – SAS Design
• Conference Organiser – Macmillan Publishers
• Party Organiser/Motor Yacht Crew for Multi-Millionaire in St Tropez, Cannes and PA in London
• Chalet Girl – Mark Warner Holidays
• Administrator – Well Planned Recuitment

What were the best and worst, and why?
My job as a party organiser / motor yacht crew was the best – I was living in the south of France, having loads of fun and seeing a different (or not so different) side of life. It was great for my interest in analysing people!
My worst was definitely conference organising for the Nursing Times and other medical press. I had to attend all conferences including those on wound management and leg ulcers – not great when you are squeamish!

Who has been your biggest inspiration?
Sue Roderick – my MD at Well Planned Recruitment. Sue taught me all about how to really ‘work’ with people – how to bring out the best in them and how to really listen. She also taught me how to sell without it looking like you are! She made me believe that if you want something badly enough – you can get it. You just need to want it badly!

Who in the industry do you most admire?
Mark Collier, CEO Dare. I first met him in 2002, when Dare was just 12 people strong. I have watched with interest as Mark has helped grow the company with quiet and unassuming determination whilst maintaining high levels of creative excellence at all times. He had a very strong vision when I first met him and I can still see that running through the core of Dare’s business.

What is your biggest achievement to date?
Surviving a role in digital recruitment through the dot.com crash and becoming head of digital at MajorPlayers – a forward-thinking, innovative and thriving agency.

On what do you base your success so far?
A very strong personal ambition to succeed in whatever I turn my hand to – I love variety and thrive on change. From a very young age, I have always been encouraged to mix with all types of people and as a result, I am a nosey people-watcher, fascinated by what makes people tick. I work with creative and innovative people and whether they are a multi-millionaire business man, an MD of a top agency, or a graduate in IT , I deal with them all the same

What are your ambitions?
To build a very solid and hugely well-respected digital division at MajorPlayers – a company known for its considered, consultative approach. I want us to break down any beliefs that people have about ‘all’ recruitment consultants being salesy, and that the priority is all about bums on seats. I have a real passion for the digital industry and creative marketing as a whole and really believe in servicing those agencies and candidates that believe in our way of working. I understand that we are here to work in partnership to grow their businesses.
Should this all fail, I would like to live somewhere hot and run a fitness and health retreat!

Change one thing about your job
Like most people I would change my work/life balance! I’d love to see the UK economy as a whole, believing that you can actually use technology to work effectively , remotely and still be profitable and successful.

Change one thing about your industry:
Recruitment-wise, I’d like to see the digital industry becoming less reactive. There should be much more serious forward-planning with new hires and much more emphasis on graduate training schemes to bring more people into our industry. I am getting quite bored with the real shortage of good digital Ads/PMs etc…

Change one thing about the world:
All world leaders are women!

What is your favourite brand?
I had to really think about this one as I am quite torn – but I’m going for Selfridges.

What is the next big brand in your view?
Something Eco!

List your “media diet”:
Industry press including NMA, Marketing Week and Campaign and online , Brand Republic. Reality TV too for my insight into people and their psychology!