Marketing Manager Sammy Ough on 10 years at Screwfix
We caught up with Senior Marketing Manager, Sammy Ough, as she talked through her 10 years at Screwfix. She talks about women who have inspired her and how she is motivated to inspire her daughter.
Tell us a bit about your career history and current role
A conscientious worker from the age of 16, I have always wanted to do my best! Working in Fashion Retail on weekends and part time in a Marketing role for an FMCG brand whilst studying at Uni, I always thrived on keeping busy, managing workloads, and challenging myself.
I started working for Screwfix, nearly 10 years ago (!) and was straight out of Uni. My first role was Sponsorship and Advertising Assistant where I was chucked in at the deep end - the best way. I developed a real passion for Media and Production and was so proud of seeing my first ad in the National Press, let alone seeing my first ad on TV!
Within 18 months, I progressed and became the Sponsorship and Advertising Manager, where I managed a small team looking after all of the Above the Line advertising for the UK, and not long after, the Republic of Ireland (supporting, at the time, our Irish website only).
Having landed some fantastic sponsorship deals in media, such as ITV, Sky Sports and talkSPORT, I decided I wanted to round off my advertising experience and learn about the digital side. I took the decision to ‘leave’ marketing and join the fabulous E-commerce team, where I learnt about all things digital advertising and, in time, progressed to a Senior role.
After spending 2 years in Digital, I left to embark on a new challenge – to become a Mum – a new and rewarding job that has taught me a lot about myself!
I now find myself back ‘home’ in the Brand Marketing team as the Senior Marketing Manager looking after all Brand Communications with a brilliant, hard-working and passionate team! Having only been in this role 1 month, my feet haven’t touched the floor but I am absolutely loving being back where I first started, being able to apply all of the experiences I have gained in the last 10 years! With lots of recent changes in the Marketing team, I am excited about the future within this role.
Tell us what International Women’s Day means to you
Being the youngest of 4 siblings and the only girl, I have always had to fight my corner (and believe me I did!) To be a part of IWD and celebrate the campaign means a lot and I strive for my little girl to be able to see how important IWD is as she grows up.
What women support and inspire you in your career?
Despite having many amazing women around me growing up, I think I took this for granted. It wasn’t until I was in the working world that I realised how important it was to have role models, female role models. People who inspire me include:
- Cliché, but my Mum has always supported me – given me sound advice and supported me in every decision I have made, and being a 90’s kid, ‘Girl Power’ gave me the courage to be me, strive to be me and aim high!
- An ex boss of mine has been a huge support to me and has helped me get where I am today – a leader and a role model, she believed in me and I learnt a lot from watching her work.
- Mother Pukka (Anna Whitehouse) – Journalist, Blogger, Ted x Talker. Since becoming a Mummy, she has been a really influential person. What she does for the working mum (parent) is second to none and, best of all, she keeps it real!
Tell us why you believe it’s important for us to #ChooseToChallenge
Because I don’t want my daughter growing up in a world where inequality is a ‘thing’. Where bias is accepted and where she can’t be the best she wants to be! And because not everyone is in this same fortunate position as I am at work. If we don’t challenge and aim to change this behaviour, then we won’t see these great women be celebrated!
What advice would you give to other women wishing to follow a similar career path to yours?
‘She believed she could, so she did!’ is the quote I live by in all aspects of life! I am also a firm believer in being the master of your own destiny. You need to know what you want, where you want to be. Believe in yourself and you will get there! But as per my top – there will always be a time where ‘winging it’ becomes an appropriate and acceptable motto.
