Anna Nguyen

• Year of graduation: 2024
• Current job title: Growth Marketer, Community Builder & Podcaster
• Current employer: Tea Time Tips
• Industry sector: Marketing

After completing my undergraduate studies in Business Management, I wanted to specialise in marketing and gain international experience. I chose the International Marketing Strategy MSc at the University of Northampton as it offered a wonderful opportunity to challenge myself, broaden my perspective, and build a strong foundation for my career. Receiving an international scholarship made that opportunity possible and accessible.

The aspect of the course I enjoyed the most was studying with the lecturers – they were super helpful and kind, and their constructive feedback after every assessment helped me continuously improve. I also loved the field trips and the opportunity to learn alongside friends from different countries.

The programme strengthened my strategic marketing knowledge while also developing practical skills such as presenting ideas, collaborating in teams, conducting research, and communicating effectively. These skills continue to be valuable whether I’m working with clients, leading community initiatives, or building my own projects.

Since graduating, I’ve been building a portfolio career across marketing, community building, and social impact in London. As a growth marketer, I’ve worked with different early-stage UK startups across health and wellness, edtech, and student-led ventures, including as a Paid Marketing Executive for The Mothership, a London-based startup backed with $22m that acquires and scales health and wellness e-commerce brands.

The biggest career challenge for me has been navigating an increasingly competitive job market as an international graduate, however it has strengthened my resilience and reinforced my belief that long-term career growth comes from continuous learning, building relationships, and creating opportunities beyond your job title.

I’m the founder and podcast host of Tea Time Tips, a career hub for aspiring and early-career marketers in the UK, focusing on accelerating early-career growth in marketing through insightful podcast episodes, community-driven events, and practical career resources. This also involves designing and hosting curated social gatherings, workshops, and community experiences across London via Ripple Social Club and Tea Time Tips, bringing together ambitious people from marketing, startups, technology, and the creative industries.

I’ve hosted a few career-focused events for young people at the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) via Tea Time Tips and London Hub I, including a LinkedInMaxxing Workshop on how to turn your LinkedIn profile into a tool for visibility, credibility, and opportunity. I’ve also volunteered as a Career Mentor through the University’s Professional Mentoring Programme, supporting students as they navigate their career journeys.

Most recently, I’ve been named as one of the Top 26 Marketers to Follow in 2026 by Girls in Marketing. I’ve been competitively selected for the inaugural cohort of the Clear (YC W21) Content Marketing Accelerator Programme, Top ~1% Startup Talent as a Jumpstart’s Marketing Cohort Member, and the Circl Leader as Coach Programme with Trustpilot. I was also chosen as a fully funded delegate for the Future-Proof: Gen Z and the Digital Economy Conference in Antalya, Turkey, co-organised by DCN Global and World Learning with support from the US Department of State.

During my studies, I was a member of the Vietnamese Students’ Society in Northampton, which helped me build a support network with fellow Vietnamese students in the UK. I also joined the Agency Challenge Day, where my team developed a gamified VR marketing strategy for a live client brief from VMLY&R and Ford. We won first place and I volunteered to design the event certificates which were presented to more than 55 participants. In addition, I attended Advertising Week Europe in London as a Student Delegate, where I learned from industry leaders and gained valuable insights into the industry. These extra-curricular activities enabled me to network and connect with other industry professionals, as well as gain a better understanding of how marketing works in the real world.

As a Vietnamese international student, studying at the University of Northampton gave me the opportunity to build a marketing career in the UK, by giving me a solid understanding of marketing strategy and strengthening my confidence in applying those concepts in a professional setting. It also helped me become more independent, adaptable, and comfortable working in multicultural environments.

The advice I would give to undergraduates interested in this career path is that your degree opens the door, but your initiative determines how far you go, so build your own projects, meet new people, and create your own opportunities instead of waiting for them.

My UON experience was the beginning of my international career journey.