Marketing Graduate Isabel Henry: My Next Chapter

Posted on: 28 October 2025 in Where are they now?

Picture Credit - Isabel Henry

Isabel Henry, a Class of 2024 Marketing graduate from the University of Liverpool, recently returned from nine months of travelling and is now joining Centrica’s Marketing Graduate Programme. In this blog, Isabel tells us more about her journey and what excites her most about starting her career in marketing.

What inspired you to study Marketing at the Management School? 

I have been interested in marketing since I was about 16, and what drew me to the Management School was that it offered a dedicated Marketing degree - something quite rare, as many universities combine marketing with another subject. I really liked that the course had a strong focus on marketing while still offering insights into areas like finance and business. As you progress, the course lets you explore different types of marketing in depth, which is so valuable when you want a career in the field. I also loved how friendly and supportive the lecturers and students were - it created such a positive environment to learn in. 

Looking back, what were the most valuable highlights or learning experiences from your course? 

One of the biggest highlights was working on branding projects in teams. We had to come up with creative ideas and explore concepts like greenwashing and different approaches to marketing. Now that I’m working in the industry, I realise how often these topics come up - having that academic understanding behind them has been so useful. 

You were involved in several student activities - Course Rep, Student Ambassador, Treasurer of the Marketing Society and Social Media Content Creator. How did these roles help you develop transferable skills that you still use in your professional life? 

I loved getting involved in different activities at university. It was such a great way to meet people, build confidence and gain experience outside the classroom. These roles taught me so many transferable skills - from communicating clearly and thinking independently to creating content and sharing ideas. Most importantly, they helped me become more confident in speaking to new people and expressing my thoughts effectively, which are skills I still use every day. 

What did you do during your summer internship at Cisco and what key skills did you develop from this experience? 

During my summer internship at Cisco, I worked as a Marketing Specialist, which was such a fun and insightful experience. I got to see the strategic side of marketing across multiple teams and learned how different functions collaborate to deliver campaigns. A real highlight was when our intern group travelled to San Francisco to present a project on sustainability in the workplace - it was amazing to combine marketing with such an important topic. Through this experience, I developed my presentation skills, teamwork and confidence in speaking to larger audiences. 

Can you tell us more about the sustainability collaboration project you presented in San Jose - what did you learn from that experience? 

That experience was honestly incredible. At first, I was quite nervous about travelling to a new country and presenting to a large audience, but working closely with my team and practising together really boosted my confidence. It massively improved my public speaking and taught me how to communicate complex topics clearly. I also learned that sustainability is such a broad concept - it’s not just about environmental issues, but also about social and human factors, like employee well-being. 

After graduating, you spent 9 months travelling through Hawaii and Fiji - what did that experience teach you about yourself? 

Travelling was one of the best experiences of my life. I’d recommend it to any graduate who gets the chance - even if it’s just for a summer. You learn so much about different cultures and perspectives, and it really opens your eyes to how other people live and think. It taught me to be adaptable, grateful and open-minded.

It also gave me time to reflect on what I value most and what kind of person I want to be, both personally and professionally. 

You’re now returning to Centrica as part of their Marketing Graduate Programme. What excites you most about this next step and how do you plan to apply what you’ve learned so far? 

I’m really excited to be returning to Centrica as part of the Marketing Graduate Programme. It’s such a great opportunity to rotate across different areas of the company and gain a deeper understanding of how marketing operates within the energy industry. I’m looking forward to applying what I learned in my degree - particularly in strategy and consumer insights - and building on the practical skills I developed during my internship. Having that academic foundation in marketing really helps me approach projects with confidence and creativity. 

Where do you see yourself in the next few years? 

That’s such a good question and honestly, I don’t have a fixed plan, but I have some ideas. I definitely see myself staying in marketing, and I’m also really interested in exploring areas connected to PR and communications. I would love the chance to work abroad at some point too. For now, I’m just excited to keep learning and growing. 

Finally, what is one piece of advice you would give to current students or recent graduates looking to start a career in marketing? 

My best advice would be to not put yourself under too much pressure and compare yourself with what other people are doing but just start making small actionable steps towards the kind of future you want. I would really advise current students or recent graduates to get experience in marketing.

Even volunteering or helping with small projects can make a big difference when you’re applying for roles later on. 

Thank you to Isabel for sharing her career journey so far. 

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