Lucy's "work hard, play hard" time at Bath saw her throwing herself into cheerleading, dancing the night away at School of Management balls and undertaking a placement with Ted Baker that changed her career trajectory forever.
Lucy is now Global Insights Director at Ralph Lauren, a job she adores in a company that makes her look forward to going to work every day.
Read on to find out more about Lucy's life after Bath...
Why did you choose to study at Bath?
I figured if my brother could get into Bath, then surely I could do the same! Joking aside, Bath was genuinely the perfect fit. Not only did it top the charts for my chosen course, Management with Marketing, but it was also one of the rare universities offering a combined degree that blended the strategic side of business with the creative spark of marketing and branding. That unique combination really stood out to me.
Beyond the course itself, Bath’s reputation was outstanding, especially with the fantastic placement year in industry, which promised invaluable real-world experience. Let’s not forget, Bath as a city is absolutely lovely and safe, which is always a bonus! I just knew Bath was where I belonged.
Did you have a particular career in mind when you chose your course?
Absolutely not – to be honest, I had no clue what I was doing! Luckily, Bath was fantastic at guiding me in the right direction and opening doors. I remember getting an email from the careers team about a marketing intern placement with Ted Baker – one of my favourite brands at the time – and I knew I had to apply. That placement turned into a two-and-a-half-year adventure, including my placement year and returning after graduating.
I quickly realised that marketing was just one piece of the puzzle. What really fascinated me was consumer insights – diving into consumer psychology and data, and then translating that into smarter, optimised marketing strategies. It was more challenging and rewarding than I expected, and it’s where I found my true passion.
Even without a clear career plan when I started, Bath’s support and those incredible opportunities helped me find my way. I’m still so grateful for that Ted Baker email!
Can you tell us about your experience of studying here? Any favourite memories, or places to go on campus and in the city?
Studying at Bath played a huge role in shaping the woman I am today. I grew up a lot – learning not just
academically, but about myself. It was tough at times, but an amazing journey that I look back on with a whole lot of pride and many fond memories.
I probably spent far too much time in the Sports Training Village! Whether it was cheerleading practice or gym sessions. If I wasn’t there, I was most likely in the SU for Happy Hour on a Friday, Score on a Wednesday, or grabbing a coffee between lectures. It was definitely a work hard, play hard kind of vibe. The Management Balls at The Roman Baths and the Summer Balls on campus were absolute highlights!
Around town, I loved escaping to The Crescent for some much-needed thinking space. And for dining, The Circus remains my all-time favourite spot in Bath. Oh, and you can’t go wrong with cocktails at The Dark Horse either!
Were you a part of any societies or sports clubs during your time at Bath? What did you enjoy most about them?
When I started at Bath, I had it in my head that I wanted to be a cheerleader. I honestly can’t tell you why – my brother mentioned it to me in passing, and for some reason, I just decided that’s what I’m going to do. I hadn’t even seen a cheer routine before! But then I watched them perform at the Opening Ceremony of Freshers’ Week and thought, I want to be up there.
Being on that stage myself was one of the best experiences of my time at Bath. Cheerleading became such a huge part of my university life, not only did I make brilliant friends, but I learned discipline, pushed myself physically in ways I never expected, and discovered I was actually good at something totally new.
I’d recommend to anyone starting at Bath to throw themselves into a society or sports club. You never know what you might end up loving – I ended up cheerleading throughout my placement year and for a few years after I graduated as well.
Describe your career journey since graduating. What is a typical day like in your current role?
It’s been a bit of a journey – and in the grand scheme of things, I’m still only a few years in! After graduating, I went back to Ted Baker, joining as a Marketing Assistant. I loved the brand and the people, but as my role evolved, I realised it wasn’t quite what I wanted to be doing anymore.
A friend of mine was working in insights at a market research agency called Kantar, and it sounded really interesting. I made the move and learned so much there – from the fundamentals of market research to the importance of data in decision-making. It was a brilliant learning experience, but I realised agency life wasn’t for me, and I missed working in an industry I was truly passionate about.
Next, I made the jump to L’Oréal, joining the Consumer & Market Insights team working on skincare, makeup and fragrance. It was amazing – such a dynamic, fast-paced environment, and I picked up loads of experience.
After about 18 months in insights, I decided to give marketing another go and joined the digital marketing team for some of our top fragrances. It was great to get a 360° view of the business, applying insights directly into marketing strategy. I loved my time at L’Oréal – it truly is such a fantastic company, and I’ve made friends for life there.
But if I’m honest, I fell out of love with marketing. I spent some time properly reflecting on what I
actually enjoyed doing, what I was good at, and realised my heart was in insights. That led me to my current role at Ralph Lauren, where I’ve genuinely landed on my feet. The brand, the work, the people – it’s all brilliant. I genuinely love going to work every day.
I’ve recently been promoted to Global Insights Director at Ralph Lauren, and it’s without doubt my best role and company yet. I love that there is always so much going on in the company, and there are so many inspiring people to learn from.
My main responsibility involves looking after our Global Brand Health Tracker. It keeps me challenged and motivated, and having learned from all those career moves along the way, I can confidently say that finding something you enjoy and that plays to your strengths makes a world of difference.
What do you enjoy most about your career? Has anything surprised you?
What I enjoy most is that I’ve genuinely found something I love doing, at a brand I’m passionate about. It honestly surprised me that I ended up working in data and insights – it’s quite a niche career, and not something I ever saw myself doing when I was at university. I didn’t even know about it then!
It’s incredibly interesting, and I’ve realised just how vital it is for businesses today. It might not be as ‘glamorous’ as I once imagined my career would be – there are no big marketing events or glossy launch parties – but it’s absolutely the right fit for me. The beautiful clothes definitely help!
How did your studies help to develop you?
Bath prepares you in every possible way. It sharpens your problem-solving skills, and it’s incredible how often the things you learn at university come in handy in real-life situations, both at work and outside of it.
My placement year was where I probably grew the most. I’m not the textbook example of how it’s supposed to go. I left my first placement after three months because it wasn’t right for me, which at the time felt like a big deal but ended up being an important lesson. I learned how to navigate a difficult professional situation, how to leave a job properly, and what kind of environment I didn’t want to work in.
After that, I joined Ted Baker, and it was the best decision I ever made. I absolutely loved it: the people, the culture, the creativity. I genuinely believe that experience shaped my career and eventually led me to where I am today.
I’d genuinely recommend the university experience to anyone. It’s not just about the degree, it’s about growing up, figuring out who you are, and collecting stories you’ll be telling for years.
What advice would you give to prospective students thinking about studying your course at Bath?
Management with Marketing is a brilliant, well-rounded course. It gives you a solid foundation in all areas of business while letting you deep dive into marketing – from brand building and storytelling to consumer behaviour and digital strategy. You come away with a really versatile skillset that’s valuable in so many industries.
One of the great things about studying at Bath is how respected the university is among employers. From my experience, companies love hiring Bath graduates, and the course structure – especially with the placement year – means you finish your degree with both academic knowledge and practical, real-world experience, which gives you such an advantage when applying for jobs.
Make the most of everything on offer. Get involved in group projects, challenge yourself with modules that might seem out of your comfort zone, and take advantage of the placement opportunities, as well as the societies on offer.
It’s worth remembering that not everything will go exactly to plan, and that’s okay! Every experience teaches you something useful.
Respond
