Lauryn Clarke Hayles
My journey to becoming a marketing strategist was one of trial and error, feeling like the Jack of all trades until I discovered I was good at one.
From the age of three, my parents pushed for me to take acting and modelling seriously. I went to the Sylvia Young Theatre School, but was overcome by stage fright, instead coming alive behind the scenes.
Alongside performing arts, I grew up being very fashion conscious. Lucky for me, my relatives were fashion designers which ignited my love for trends and details. My experience growing up (either at school or church), was characterised by a conflicting sense of perception. I was the girl that other girls laughed at for being a bit different, but then I’d have the last laugh, because those same girls would end up wearing the very fashion-style they mocked me for.
An important moment of my journey was when my strengths and ability to forecast media won me the golden ticket to The BRIT School. It was there that I began to understand how the media industry works and how tough and catty marketing (especially fashion marketing) can be. Regardless, I loved it, I thrived and was in my element. My parents are Jamaican heritage, meaning that from a young age tough love was something I quickly became accustomed to. I do love a challenge.
While studying media there, I did charity work for an organisation called Reaching Higher. This taught me a lot about understanding my audience and finding ways to encourage others to support the charity and its cause.
Reaching Higher provided great opportunities for me to get involved in marketing strategies. One of their main objectives is to provide young people with tools to achieve their goals. I took great pleasure in hearing their stories and reaching out to companies like Lloyds Bank to fundraise £50,000, as well as securing computers and laptops for Children In Need. This experience helped me hone my skills from theory into practice, my first experience dealing with such large companies too. I loved my time at Reaching Higher and won two Jack Petchey awards for my efforts.
These experiences encouraged me to study for a degree in Fashion Marketing at the University of East London. While at uni, I worked as a marketing strategist for a brand called Twenty Four London, where we managed to get collaborations with Nike and New Balance. I also worked for online fashion brand Goneclub London, growing their social media following and getting them mentioned in GQ magazine.
I find the beauty in the job is being able to see potential in something and know that you can help make it great. I look forward to more personal growth, developing meaningful relationships and getting better and better at work.
Lauryn Clarke Hayles
Thanks Lauryn for sharing your story.
She looks about ten in her photo, but Lauryn has assured me this was taken in Feb this year. She is looking for a mentor to help her on all things strategy, as well as opportunities.
Please get in touch with me at Storyletters to be connected with Lauryn.
Let’s create change together.
Best wishes,
Sherry Collins
