Sarah Patterson

Q. How did it feel winning an award recently?

It felt great to win an award solely for marketing. As it’s so rare for marketing teams to be recognised for all the work that goes on behind the scenes.

Q. How did you end up with a career in marketing and how did you find yourself in the mortgage industry?

I went to university and studied fashion, culture and creative writing/journalism. I very quickly realised that fashion and journalism wasn’t quite for me, however I wanted to put all my skills I had picked up on my course (such as writing, web, photography, design) to use. So, I landed my first Marketing role within a manufacturing company. It was very much ‘on the job’ learning being a one-

person marketing team! But I soon knew that marketing was always the perfect avenue for me. I then progressed through a number of varied industries and companies from global businesses to start-ups in marketing roles, until I found myself in the mortgage industry!

Q. Where do you live?

I live in a small town in Bedfordshire. It’s nothing to shout about, but it’s close enough to both Cambridge and London, so I feel privileged in that respect!

Q. Do you have any pets?

I have two cats, Poppy and Daisy, they’re 10 years old and I’ve had them from babies at 10 weeks!

Q. Do you have a favourite saying?

YOLO - You only live once!

Q. What’s your favourite TV advert?

Just Eat – it’s far too catchy!

Q. What was the first (or last) concert/gig you went to?

Last gig was Chic at the Albert Hall. I’ve got Friendly Fires and Arctic Monkeys this year – I’ve got quite a varied music taste!

Q. What advice would you give to other marketers in the mortgage market?

Don’t be afraid to push boundaries and do some ‘out there’ marketing. You can very quickly fall into mundane marketing without exciting launches and the ups and downs of being in the mortgage industry. So think outside the box and apply marketing practices from other industries to this one.

Also, involve other teams in your marketing and get the business excited about what’s happening – they’ll be more likely to help and engage!

Q. What is your favourite city you have ever been to?

Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam

Q. What is your favourite film?

Parent Trap