Carl Lincoln

Carl Lincoln has utilised his undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications from Kent Business School to build a successful career in marketing. He is currently the Marketing Manager at Hunters – The Furniture Company, and has previously held similar positions in the construction and medical industries. 

Tell us about your career path since graduation.

Since graduating in 2013 I have had an interesting and varied career working in Marketing and Sales in a host of different industries, including medical devices, marketing (agency-side), construction, and now commercial furniture.

Although my roles usually start as marketing jobs, they have often evolved to include business development with some level of focus on sustainability and social value as this is a passion of mine.

I have also had my own finance blog and freelance business – the latter of which has been both full-time job and a side business for me throughout my career.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

It's a cliche but, apart from the train journey in and out, I really don’t have a typical work day.

My time is spent both in the office and meeting clients/suppliers/contacts around the London and Kent areas. One minute I'll be working on a tender return document, the next I'll be at a networking event or working on optimising our website.

Can you share a professional highlight from your career so far?

Some key career highlights are winning multiple industry awards, delivering complex integrated marketing campaigns, and closing multi-million pound deals.

Giving back is also really important to me, so I have been heavily involved with environmental, social, and governance charity initiatives throughout my career. Most recently, our team at Hunters raised over £5k for Mind through a '10k steps a day in October' challenge.

How did your time at Kent help you achieve your current career?

Aside from learning the basics of Business Studies and Value Chain Management, the most important skill I gained at Kent was the ability to think critically.

This transferrable skill has enabled me to excel in a variety of complex industries – from working with scientists and engineers to my current role in the commercial furniture sector.

What advice would you give to our current/prospective students who are looking to get into the same line of work?

Your degree is valuable but so is real world experience. Having some form of work experience is crucial. Whether that’s a placement, an internship, or a Saturday job, it is important to put your knowledge into practice.

I would advise focusing on your transferrable skills and growing your network. That way you will have a great balance of 'what you know' AND 'who you know'.

Did you get involved in any extracurricular activities as a student?

I was a Student Ambassador and also did quite a bit of mentoring/speaking at University events.

Do you have a favourite memory from your time at Kent?

One of my best memories from my time at Kent Business School was when I took part in a team 'Pitch It' challenge. We pulled together as a team, won the challenge, and I got my first marketing job out of it!

It is a truly excellent example of how commercially focused the Business School is and how you can create your own luck.

Is there anything you would do differently if you could repeat your time at Kent?

I would have attended more networking events. Whilst I did quite a few, being a student gives you the perfect excuse to reach out to business leaders and make connections that can benefit you for life.

Are you still in touch with other Kent alumni or academics?

Not many alumni but a few academics, usually through LinkedIn.

What are your future ambitions?

I intend to become Head of Marketing then Marketing Director at my current workplace and grow the marketing function in to a high-performing team.

When I get closer to retirement age I plan to complete a PhD in Marketing, focused on the charity sector so that I can then effectively support local charities with their fundraising and marketing efforts.