Meet Ross 

Ross joined White Marble Marketing back in January as a Marketing Consultant and has been working on a variety of projects within the Consultancy division. He joined the business from a large, fast-growing US asset management firm where he worked in various positions for over seven years. He gained valuable skills in roles such as Senior Presentation Specialist, Marketing Operations Manager and EMEA Digital Marketing Manager. Prior to this, he was a graphic designer and artworker for a number of years.

What is a fun fact about you?

I learned to do a handstand walk recently – I wanted to learn the skill, so I challenged my brother to see who could handstand-walk the furthest after a month of practice. We were both able to walk about 10m, so I considered it a draw. Nothing like a bit of sibling competitiveness to help learn a skill!

What was your first job?

My very first job was working in a car paint shop, I started when I was 13 to earn a bit of extra pocket money. I would help with fulfilment of orders, matching colour swatches to the colour of the car then mixing the paint appropriately for a perfect match. My first proper job was a snowboard instructor when I was 16: I had to pass a qualification before I could start to teach, but that job probably sounds more fun than it actually was.

What is the best piece of career advice you have ever received?

‘Do something that matters to you and do it with purpose’. I really like the notion of getting up every day to work on something you care about – and work on it with the vigour it deserves.

How did you end up here?

I had been at my previous firm for seven years, I loved my time there and worked with some fantastic people. However, I felt there was an opportunity to continue growing my skillset at White Marble Marketing in a capacity and environment that suited me better. I loved the vision and purpose that White Marble has. When I heard the way my (now) colleagues spoke about the firm, I just knew it was something I wanted to be part of. Moving to consultancy was a big change, but something that I am really enjoying – getting my teeth into projects and helping to deliver for clients is such a great position to be in.

What excites you most about your job?

The opportunity set, both in terms of the firm and the work undertaken. I love being able to help clients deliver great projects or work that benefits them, and ultimately their end clients. I also really love that I am challenged and I’m learning every day, which is a big thing for me – to be in a position to continue growing personally and professionally whilst helping the firm to succeed.

If you weren’t working at White Marble and money wasn’t an object what would you be doing?

I would start a charity to turn something I enjoy doing into helping or benefitting others, which I feel I do now, just not for free. I even have the idea around what it would be, I just don’t have the ‘money no object’ thing! I’d also travel the world whenever I could to experience other cultures and see as much as I could.

What do you think will be the biggest influencing ‘thing’ in marketing in the next 10 years?

Perhaps Augmented Reality – the potential and scope within this space is enormous. I think, as technology develops and becomes more readily available, there could be a huge opportunity for firms to have an impact in this space.

Within finance, I think it could be sustainable investing – this isn’t a new concept, but I think this can extend far beyond the way lots of companies are viewing sustainable investing now.

What is the best book you have read recently?

I read a really good book to my 11-month old daughter last night – The Purple Bottomed Rom Pom. One of the reasons I love this book is it was written by my uncle and is about my cousins!

Other than that, I found Sapiens a really engaging read – I find that stuff fascinating. 

What is the coolest place you have ever been/ What is your favourite holiday destination?

This is a tricky one – I’ve been very lucky in that I have travelled to many beautiful places, so to name a few of my favourites I’d say the Maldives, snowboarding in Utah and a cracking holiday in Greece, but I’d have to say my favourite destination/holiday was travelling around Australia for a month (other than me losing an £800 camera in Dubai en route).

What is your favourite dessert?

Sticky Toffee Pudding – just awful for the waistline, but if I go out for a meal and it’s on the menu, it’s getting ordered.