More Than a Head of Marketing & Communications - Tracey Braziel

Tell us about your role at Decision Time?

I’m the Head of Marketing & Communications at Decision Time. I’m responsible for building our brand and increasing the number of inbound enquiries we get.

How long have you been with the company and how did you come to work here?

I have been with the company for just over 18 months. Part of the interview process was putting together a vision for taking the company’s marketing forward, demonstrating how it could support the growing sales team and expand its customer base. Putting that presentation together helped me understand the company’s ethos as a business and from a people side. Having the chance to work in a company that places people and the business side by side in equal measure doesn’t come up as often as it should, so I was delighted when I was offered the role. I started the same day as two other new employees, and the welcome couldn’t have been warmer.

Describe a typical day working at Decision Time.

There is no typical day within marketing at Decision Time, every day is varied and busy, but it always starts the same way. Every morning I catch up with Sophie, the other half of the marketing team, and we go over our weekly task list, look at what we were able to move on the day before, discuss any problems we might have and prioritise the work for the day.

After that, it’s usually a mixture of meetings and working on producing content to help our sales team. This could be developing a series of webinars, case studies, videos, product-related comms or campaign messaging. Deadlines are often multiple and fluid, so having the flexibility to react to requirements is key to successfully supporting the business. The list I start my day with is rarely the same by the close of business.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

It’s the combination of the people and the product. Marketing doesn’t happen in isolation; I meet regularly with the different teams across Decision Time to understand the product, our customer’s needs, and our markets. Everyone is so helpful and supportive, taking the time to pass on their knowledge. Pulling all that information together in a clear, simple and visual way is at the core of our marketing, so to see how that can help move a customer on in their sales journey or hear their feedback on how the product benefits them is very satisfying.

What are the biggest challenges of your role?

Time is probably the biggest challenge, but I don’t think that’s any different from any team operating in business today. There is always more we could be producing or talking about. Having time to develop these approaches creatively sometimes requires you to sit back and think. Allowing yourself time to do that is a real challenge when there are to-do lists as long as your arm and email pinging every few minutes. It’s a balance we all struggle with, but essential if we are to continue to show our customers that we understand their requirements.

Tell us something interesting about yourself.

I have been a member of Girlguiding all my life, moving through the different age sections and then into a leadership role. I work with girls aged 10 - 18, and I love helping them try new things, move out of their comfort zone and grow in confidence. When a shy ten-year-old arrives and eight years later leaves a strong, confident, independent person, knowing you have played a tiny part in her journey gives you a great sense of pride. I have also had some amazing experiences through the organisation, from having afternoon tea with Princess Margaret in her private apartment to learning how to milk goats on a farm in Malta!

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