Alex tells us how his BA in Modern Language and Business Management equipped him with the skills to found his own social media agency.

Why did you choose The University of Manchester?

I was drawn in by Manchester, the warmth of the people and a course that allowed me to pursue two areas that were important to me.

What are you doing for work now?

I run Spin Group – a group of leading social agencies comprising of Spin, Be A Bear and Tiny Studios. We are a group of 100 people with offices and teams around the world. I set the strategy for growth and ensure we are adapting to market conditions. My business partner Max and I started Spin in 2016 and haven’t looked back since.

How has your degree supported your career?

There are 3 things that I can say helped me from my time at UoM.

1. Marketing foundations – I took a lot of marketing courses and this gave me a great foundational knowledge of the timeless principles of marketing.
2. I dabbled in some entrepreneurial courses that gave me my first sense that entrepreneurship was within reach and spoke to me on a deeper level
3. When I first came across the business school, I got a sense of excitement and community around opportunities. I also had a small startup at the time and won a grant from UoM to pursue that opportunity further.

What do you look back on as the highlights from your time at university?

Tools & Techniques of entrepreneurship was a course I took in my final year that really stands out. My Residence Abroad year in Toulouse taught me to be bold. Winning a business plan pitch competition gave me confident to go get it.

What advice do you have for current or aspiring students?

Experiment when you don’t have much to lose – university is the best time to try things out. Embrace the ‘free time’ you have. Open your eyes up to the resources all around you!

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