Discover the unstoppable force that is MJ Li. By day she is a Marketing Manager in the sustainability sector, and by night she is a key player on the MWI Committee. Here we speak with MJ, seeking her invaluable insights and expert guidance on skillfully navigating the twists and turns of a successful career.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your career. How did you get to where you are today?
Marketing is my second career, and who knows where I’ll go! Originally, I studied, trained and worked as a clinical dietitian as I had a passion for food nutrition and health. From here, I started working on community programs which made me realise, I like project work and trying to communicate to larger groups. I then studied Marketing and got my first role at an agency.
What does a day in your current role look like? What do you enjoy the most about it?
It really varies, and that is what I love. From reviewing revenue drivers to understanding our audiences perceive your brand(s) to creating social media content, I am across a lot in my current role, but that’s also because I work in a SME that gives me that opportunity!
Is there anything that you wish people knew about either your role or industry?
Marketing is MUCH more than social media, and just because a brand or a business isn’t on social media – doesn’t mean they don’t have a stellar marketing team! Not every business needs social marketing in their marketing mix. I also think that marketing is misunderstood in a lot of businesses, which sometimes sees marketing poorly executed. Teams need to work together, communicate well and understand the priorities of each product/business to see the true value of marketing.
What is a career challenge you have faced and what did you learn from it?
Find a business that appreciates marketing inputs and the marketing team to influence business decisions. Businesses that include marketing from conception are more likely to create products and services that sell (because it’s driven by data, planned well and there’s an audience that you are solving a problem for!)
Which practical skills have been most valuable to you throughout your career?
Being open-minded and willing to gain perspective from others. A lot of the time marketers may have an idea of how something will work but it’s not until we understand the full picture that we can see why it will or won’t work and how we can potentially improve our communications or strategy.
Are there any platforms or tools that you use to help manage your workload?
Paper and pen for all my ad-hoc, last-minute notes and scribbles, but I find a lot of use in a good PMS like ClickUp or Jira, depending on the project. Excel / Google sheets and knowing a good formula!
How do you maintain a work-life balance? What do you enjoy outside of work?
Going for a walk and getting fresh air. Spending time with my dog. Exercising.
Have you had a mentor during your career? If so, what is the best advice they gave you?
I had a mentor through MWI, we still are in contact every so often. Her advice was to understand that everyone is learning something, so don’t feel like you need to be perfect every time.
Are there any career development activities, courses, or events you would recommend?
Don’t expect to learn from just one course or one event. You grow by attending and gaining experiences from getting involved in a range of activities and events, from marketing to industry.
What is your career aspiration and how are you working towards achieving it?
I want to continue to grow as a strategic marketer in a leadership role. I try and consume as much marketing and media news as possible (without it being over-consuming!), I also try and stay on the tools as much as possible (again, without it being over-consuming!) because it is so important to know how something will work before creating a plan or strategy around it.
What advice would you give to someone beginning their career in marketing?
Be curious, ask why and why not!
Why is connecting with a network of other women in marketing important to you?
As someone who came into marketing from a different career, I knew what it was like to feel new and in a different world. I want to make other women feel supported and in a comfortable space so they can grow and be curious – that’s where marketing magic happens!
Where do you find creativity, inspiration, and motivation in challenging times?
From talking to friends, watching, reading or listening to content that I usually wouldn’t consume. Sometimes it just takes fresh air and a break from thinking!
Do you have a favourite quote that has inspired you, either in your work or life?
- Slow down to speed up
- You don’t know what you don’t know
