Get to know the Iff Digital Team: Introducing Gemma
It’s been four months now since Gemma joined us as Performance Marketing Manager. We thought it was about time for a Q&A! 🤩
What made you want to join Iff Digital Media?
I worked with Tracey in a previous role and we stayed in touch, it was lovely hearing all about Iff and what it was like to work here through her. It felt like I already knew Mike and Nadia by the time we were introduced!
It’s rarely an easy decision to move to a new role, but I enjoyed getting to know them and their passion for digital, the clients and the team really shone through.
One thing that stuck with me was a conversation I had with Nadia, my line manager; within the first 10 minutes, I knew she was a compassionate mentor, someone who genuinely cared about her colleagues and was invested in their development and growth.
After that, it was a no-brainer. I couldn’t wait to be part of the journey. 🥳
What is your background?
I’ve been specialising in Paid Social for over five years now. For the first couple of years, I had the pleasure of working with Argos and Tu Clothing – what a fantastic career launch! There’s nothing like the Black Friday buzz and peak is definitely my favourite time of year!
I dabbled with display a little too, before moving into fashion and working with Yours Clothing on a global scale. Paid Social had a huge impact on their digital performance, so it was really rewarding to be leading that channel for them. Around this time, I delved into the world of PPC and Shopping, working with The Range.
Over the last 2 years, my role has expanded to cover both B2C and B2B, including e-Commerce, Lead-Gen and Brand. I’ve worked across multiple social platforms alongside delivering and providing training for organic social too – which has been a dream, as I’m super passionate about all things social!
The list of industries I’ve worked within has been hugely diversified to include:
- Fitness supplements
- Sports clothing
- Vegan retail
- Finance
- HR
- IT Solutions
- Personal tech
The holiday home industry has also become a bit of a specialist area for me, having worked with both Swift Group and Willerby.
I also delved into the sports world, supporting Oxen, Leeds Rhinos, Hull KR and Hull City, alongside B2B industry-leaders Stone Group and Flexa.
During this time, I managed and trained a team of social specialists which has honestly been the highlight of my career! I strongly believe in growing the talent of tomorrow and making sure my team has a path for development – but above all – that they feel valued, appreciated and respected.
I was also a 2022 winner of the Hull & Humber Top 30 Under 30 scheme, which provided me with invaluable leadership training that I’m thrilled to build upon at Iff! 😊
What’s your favourite part of your role?
I love agency life! 😍 It’s fast-paced for sure, but being able to work with such a variety of businesses provides countless learning opportunities.
I also believe it’s really important for specialists to be accessible to clients – getting to know them directly, talking to them about the channel and collaborating with them is one of the best parts of the job!
How would you describe the culture at Iff?
Iff’s culture is what drew me here! Well, one of the main factors, at least. It’s incredible to work alongside actual industry experts who foster an environment of learning and growth. I felt welcome from my very first day. 🤗
It sounds cliche, but honesty and integrity are huge here and align closely with my personal values. We genuinely want our clients to succeed and are driven to help make that happen.
What’s your biggest highlight over the last 4 months?
Improving my work-life balance! I didn’t realise just how much I was overdoing it – sometimes loving your job can have its drawbacks! Iff put wellbeing first and I can honestly say it’s had a huge impact on my life.
I’ve also been entrusted with a lot of responsibility, but the team have my back every step of the way. Support, learning, compassion, expertise, pushing boundaries – those are my buzzwords from the last four months!
Who would be your perfect client, and why?
Can I cheat and say two? 😜
- Boots would have to be up there – I worked part-time at Boots as a student and fell in love with the company, from beauty to gifting, to healthcare. Beauty in particular is huge on social at the moment and the opportunity on TikTok alone is staggering!
- To work with a book or publishing brand would be an absolute dream! You’ll see below that I’m an avid reader and I believe the opportunity for both brand-building and e-commerce is huge! I’d love to play a part in connecting readers with incredible stories and influencing the next generation of book nerds.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
If I’m not bingeing the latest show on Netflix or having a movie marathon, I’m reading! It’s a top bucket-list item of mine to have a whole room FILLED with bookshelves one day. My TBR is never-ending… 📚 #booktok #ifyouknowyouknow