Zoe Harris describes herself as “a senior commercial leader with a specialism in transformation, I am hungry to deliver growth in excess of the organic potential, identifying and delivering opportunities beyond the norm.” She is currently chief marketing officer and an executive director ay=t Manchester HQ’d online travel giant On the Beach.
How did you first get into your industry?*
By accident, really. I was working as a holiday rep and ended up hustling my way into the marketing team at head office because it looked so much fun. There was no big career plan, just a bit of confidence and a fear of having to move back to my parents’ in Bristol if I couldn’t find a job in Manchester! That chance move turned out to be the beginning of something I absolutely love.
What do you love about your job?*
I love the mix of strategic thinking and creative leaps – and the buzz that comes when those two things come together, and the electric energy it creates in a team. Everyone pushing for the same goal, solving problems and making stuff happen. It’s just the most brilliant thing to be part of.
Who – or what – has inspired you in your career?
A sixth former recently pointed out to me after a talk I gave for Speakers for Schools, that I carry around a whole toolkit of sayings that I’ve nicked from a variety of places: “You’ll be a stronger person for it.” My mum “There’s nothing wrong with being fired.” My dad “Keep going until someone tells you to stop.” My old boss from MTV “If it were easy, everyone would be doing it.” Simon Cooper, founder of On the Beach “Keep buggering on.” Winston Churchill Just need to find a saying of my own now!
What are the biggest challenges about your job?*
One of the biggest challenges is finding ideas that genuinely give you ‘the butterflies’, ideas that could fly and land brilliantly. That uncertainty is what makes marketing exciting. It’s not always safe or predictable. That tension between risk and reward is what keeps me hooked.
What skills have been the most crucial to you succeeding in your career so far?*
I think curiosity and having a nose for what people actually care about, what will make them stop and take notice, what will make them talk. If you can tune into real-life behaviour and instincts, you’re halfway there. Also, knowing your way around a spreadsheet is underrated. If you can’t link what you’re doing to the numbers, you’ll never get to lead the conversation – someone else will do it for you.
What was your first salary and what could someone getting into the industry expect to earn nowadays?*
My first salary was £9,500, and I genuinely felt like I’d won the lottery.
What education or training would be most useful for someone looking to follow your career path?*
I think what will set you apart is how you behave rather than your formal training. Be ambitious. Be curious. Work hard. Take on the difficult stuff no one else wants. Seize opportunities, even when you don’t feel ready. Make your own luck. Be honest with yourself and the people around you. And remember to have a right laugh along the way, too.
What advice would you have for someone looking to follow your path?*
Find a place where you’ll be allowed to keep going, back yourself and have no regrets. Great mantras for life and for work.
