Chelsea Levi

Chelsea Levi, a 2013 English Language and Linguistics graduate from Kent, is currently a Senior Digital Campaigns Manager at News UK, overseeing digital campaigns for The Sun newspaper. Her career journey took her from a small digital agency to roles at Callaway Golf and Vue Entertainment, where she managed major film campaigns. At News UK, she plans and manages diverse digital campaigns, collaborating with creative and media agencies.

Tell us about your career path since graduation.

I worked at a small digital marketing agency before joining a small e-commerce business in Brighton, which honed my skills in copywriting and online marketing. After a short break backpacking, I joined Callaway Golf and spent almost four years working in sport, having the opportunities to travel and meet famous sportspeople, which was a dream come true for me. I took a contract in a luxury fashion business to get management experience before joining Vue Entertainment as Digital Marketing Manager in 2022; here, I was able to attend film premieres and worked with Disney, Warner Bros and all the major film distribution studios on nationwide film campaigns for films such as Barbie and Oppenheimer. Most recently, I’ve taken a senior role at News UK, where I work on The Sun newspaper. 

What does a typical work day look like for you?

My primary role is in planning and managing digital campaigns for The Sun newspaper - a mix of brand, conversion and consideration campaigns. I start my day by reading the newspaper. This is something we all do, every day. Then, I usually have a meeting with our creative and media agencies and review our production deliverables for the week. I might be managing an advertising campaign on Meta or Google, so will check in on performance. I’ll usually meet with the promotions teams to understand what campaigns need to be briefed and executed on and then work with various teams to make sure we deliver what’s needed. 

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

Successfully launching a brand-new website and two apps in the UK in 2023 at Vue. The pandemic really changed customer behaviour, shifting the majority of people into booking their tickets online. The importance of a seamless customer journey cannot be underestimated. 

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

My first role was as a copywriter, and all of my roles since have encompassed an element of copywriting. Having a background in English language study has been vital in ensuring I’m able to write and edit copy for newsletters, press releases, product pages and more. 

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

Marketing is a very broad field: there’s so many specialisms and lots of study disciplines that would make fine foundations for a career in this field. Be prepared to juggle a lot of different plates: a lot of marketers are social media, performance marketing and brand gurus rolled into one. Keep up with the latest news, in digital especially, as the landscape is always evolving. 

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

I played cricket in my first year but was hopelessly bad. And the rest of my time was spent writing: blogging and volunteering for small brands to get some experience.

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

Too many to count! So many nights out at K Bar with friends from my halls. The first sports society night out. Days cramming for exams in the Templeman Library. Lunch outside in the sun. I just want to go back!

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

I really wanted to take an elective in a different discipline but was worried it wouldn’t complement my studies. I know now that I never should’ve worried about this, and the variety would be celebrated!

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

Yes! And I love seeing what all my former classmates are doing now. Some are married, some have children, some are living on the other side of the world. And all of them are successful.

What are your future ambitions?

I really want to return to studying. I’d like to Master in linguistics and explore other avenues in my career. I’m interested to see how work in media will unfold. I’d like to travel more and maybe live abroad.