How to become a strategist: Nicola's story

Nicola Davis - Strategist

I work at Mixcloud, which is a audio streaming platform, things normally like DJ mixes, podcasts, radio shows and I work in the brand partnerships team. Our work helps brands be more relevant because we help them basically understand what is happening in the culture that they are interested in.

I did four A-levels, I did English literature, religious studies, economics and politics and I went on to do theology. I don't think much of the content from those subjects relate to what I do now, but I definitely did those subjects because I have a very deep interest in people and their behaviour and why and how they do things, which is exactly what I do now and helping brands understand that, so I think it all led here one way or another.

I do music journalism as like my side hustle, my side project which I'm doing for over three years now. I think music journalism does help me in my day job in some ways. I think it's just this understanding of what's happening in the world around you, so it’s getting out of my own bubble, out of my own world and speaking to artists from all over the world about what they do and who they’ve… why they made a song that way or touring and what that means to them and what they're wearing and how they sound and words they’re using, it's all part of the puzzle of what's going on in the world so from that point of view for sure and also just in terms of just building a network.

Some of the key things that I’ve learnt is one, just to get out there and speak to people. The best thing is that that then person you work with them, you see them again in a year's time, they introduce you to someone else that might be useful for you. It’s always worth talking to someone that you think is interesting.

I would say immerse yourself in whatever scene that you're interested in so if you're really interested in live and you maybe want to go into tech or management or anything like that, go to as many shows you can, that's the best way to see what’s going on.

I think the best thing about my job is sort of two sides: one is the environment and the people that I work within, everyone does something else, there’s so many DJs, radio hosts, people who put on events, do really amazing stuff outside the office that we all share and we support and we go to their shows and go to their events. I also really enjoy working with brands that I genuinely care about. To work with those companies and to work with people who are really making the decisions in those companies is really gratifying.