How Brigitte Koepke Got Ahead

Name: Brigitte Koepke

Company: Kodime (Intelligence For Mobile Media)

Job title: Marketing Director

What made you want to get into marketing?:

A passion for creative solutions relating to communication issues. Having studied sociology and psychology, the social and psychological parameters of decision-making processes understandably fascinate me.

How did you get into the industry?:

MA in Political Sciences, Sociology & Psychology. Training on the job with blue-chip clients enabled me to get a solid understanding of various communication disciplines within the marketing mix. External training mostly with industry associations. In-house training at Burson Marsteller, such as Managing European Accounts, European Crises Simulation, Listening Skills, etc. Work experience led to a job offer during my last year at university.

What was good and bad about your first job?:

Good: First-rate clients, great creative concepts, good opportunities to take on responsibility early in my career. Bad: The money’s not great when you first start out, but this changes quickly with some hard graft and promotions.

List your jobs to date:

Assistant Account Manager, Account Manager, Account Director, Group Manager. Founder of an e-commerce venture. Marketing Director and Co-owner, Director of the Board of Kodime Ltd

What were the best and worst, and why?:

All jobs I had were fantastic at the time. It’s great experience to work with a team of professionals who know what they are doing. On the other hand, working with huge egos who don’t get the job done is somewhat more difficult!

Who has been your biggest inspiration?:

There is no single individual. I have a sort of inspirational philosophy – to try out, learn the lessons and improve continuously, reinvent and start again, e.g Steve Jobs at Apple. I’m also inspired by new ideas and concepts – new music, books, social responsibility – if you keep your eyes open to what’s around you, it’s amazing where you find inspiration.

Who in the industry do you most admire?:

Sir Richard Branson, for developing a powerful brand and cleverly transferring it to other industries. I also admire his passion for social responsibility – using his power and money to try to change the world.

What is your biggest achievement to date?:

Staying happy and optimistic come rain or shine.

On what do you base your success so far?:

Hard work, lots of communication, staying power and humour.

What are your ambitions?:

A long trip around the world when the job is done.

Change one thing about your job:

More time, please.

Change one thing about your industry:

Take the myth out.

Change one thing about the world:

Make the UN work.

What is your favourite brand?:

Prada.

What is the next big brand in your view?:

Abercrombie.

List your ‘media diet’:

Online news – mostly BBC. The Independent, The Observer, The Sunday Times, Marketing Week, Marketing, Campaign, NMA. BBC Newsnight.