Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of having an honorary member of the Bright Team - Shana, an aspiring marketer who joined us for work experience.
After two busy weeks, we sat down with Shana to catch up about what her experience has been like and what she’s learnt.
Why did you apply for work experience at Bright?
I believe in the power of getting people in the same room, and during my last placement at The Culture Club, I was working on creative marketing strategies, including an in-person event, so Jodi (The Culture Club’s Founder) introduced me to Bright as the event management specialists they work with.
What really interested me about this placement was the chance to gain first-hand office experience, attend client-facing meetings, and understand the formats and processes behind the scenes, like proposals, briefs, and decks. I wanted to see how creative concepts are developed and communicated in a professional environment, and Bright has been a great place to explore that.
What kind of projects do you like working on?
I love projects where creativity can be pushed - where there’s space to play with visuals, explore unusual ideas, and combine fun and creativity with strategy.
Growing up with two big brothers playing video games from a young age, I was surrounded by striking visuals and one day I would love to channel that kind of creativity/strategy combo at a brand like Nintendo or Red Bull, where the barriers to creative expression are really wide.
"I can say my confidence has more than doubled... my time at Bright has taught me a lot about my own capabilities, capacity and value."
What is the most important thing you learned at Bright?
I think the biggest learning was that I realised quite early on that I’m not so passionate about running events! I love events and what they can do, but on a more strategic level, I found myself more passionate about how Bright presents itself - the branding, the creativity, and the way ideas are brought to life.
But on a more personal level, I can say my confidence has more than doubled. Growing up, I was very shy and I felt like I had fallen into a self-fulfilling prophecy where I viewed myself as unlikable, not very smart and sometimes worried I wouldn’t find my place. But my time at Bright has taught me a lot about my own capabilities, capacity and value.
From a transferable skill perspective, I’ve also learned a lot from being in client-facing meetings - understanding not just the ideas, but the way they’re communicated, presented, and refined as part of a process. It’s given me a clearer picture of how creativity can work in a professional environment.
Were there any particular highlights?
One of the things I enjoyed most was just being part of the day-to-day office environment - the team atmosphere was really welcoming, and it made the placement feel fun as well as valuable. The coffee catchups, team lunches and, of course, the Snoopy cuddles.
A standout moment for me was actually the drive back from Manchester to Bristol after running a successful ghd event with Alistair and Rosie. We shared music, swapped stories, and learned a lot about each other - it was a fun time.
What's next for you?
Right now, I’m focused on building up my portfolio, taking online courses, and continuing to explore opportunities that could lead to a permanent position. I don’t know exactly what’s next yet, but I do know I’ll keep working hard, learning as much as I can, and staying true to myself.
I’m open to doing more placements, but I’m also looking forward to something longer term — somewhere I can really settle in and grow, rather than leaving just as I’m finding my feet.
