Who are you? And what’s your job at Whiteoaks?
I’m Tom and I’m the Business Development Executive in the Business Support Team.
What does your daily to-do list look like?
Every day is very different, but I guess the one constant is writing and scheduling the social posts for the Whiteoaks social media channels. After that my day can be very varied, from helping put together proposals for potential clients, working on our marketing campaigns or researching the market, to finding new and exciting prospects. It always makes for an interesting day.
What made you want to get into PR?
I studied Business & Management at university, so there were many opportunities after I graduated. But I previously worked for a large tech company in marketing before moving to Whiteoaks. Agency work always appealed to me as it’s fast-paced and you get to experience a lot of different challenges.
Which is your favourite brand and why?
That’s a hard one, but I’d probably say Red Bull even though I don’t even drink the stuff. It’s impressive that they have created a brand that people relate to extreme sports and people pushing the limits even though the drink isn’t exactly good for you. But I like that they just seem to want to put their name to anything that seems exciting like F1, skiing, surfing, etc.
What’s your top tip for someone who wants to get into the PR industry?
Internships. Not even specific to PR but anyone wanting to break into a certain industry, internships just give you an extra bit of experience that may set you apart from the rest.
How do you unwind after a day in the office?
Depends really, sometimes it will be exercise but other times I will get home and just watch the football if it’s on or try find a new series that I haven’t already watched on Netflix. But I am in the middle of buying a house so that tends to dominate the evenings at the moment.
What’s your favourite anthem suggestion for Friday’s Whiteoaks Power Hour?
Probably a Red Hot Chilli Peppers song, hard to go wrong with them and most of their songs still hold up today.
If you could be any character in any film, what would you be
I’m not sure really, maybe Ferris Bueller. If I could live everyday like he does in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off that would be pretty cool.
What’s your ideal getaway location?
100% skiing in the Alps. It’s the one holiday that I can’t miss every year. Nothing beats a ski holiday.
What’s your go-to party trick?
I’d love to say something really impressive, but I don’t think I really have one. I’m pretty happy to let other people take centre stage.
And finally, cheesy chips?
Definitely! Takes me back to Uni nights.
