Marketing Director shares her story with students and staff

What did you study at Colyton Grammar School? 
Charlotte Green studied Physics, Maths, Art and English and was the youngest of 4 to attend Colyton Grammar School. 

Favourite memory from School?
Charlotte's favourite memory from school was a Drama production at GCSE ' Kiss Me Kate', with Mr House and Mrs Gunn-Johnson, her older sister played a key part (Victoria G). She recalls the dresses, which had huge metal hoops in the dresses and her and Sally D swishing around in them. Charlotte has continued her love for the stage as she went through University and has already found a part in a Mama Mia production after a few weeks in moving to Chicago. 

After Colyton?
After Colyton, Charlotte took a gap year, she went to New Zealand and Australia. She returned and attended UCL to study Information Management. She thanks Mr Bush for allowing her to develop and encouraged independent thinking (as a gap year was a novel thing to do!). Traveling and her experiences in theatre meant she was ready to focus at Uni. 

Charlotte started an internship at Nestle in East Croydon in the sales team, this built character but she decided this wasn't for her. She liked the look of marketing and excelled at marketing key products such as 'Rowntrees Randoms' and the creation of the Milky Bar Giant Buttons. After 8 years working at Nestle she took a break and travelled to South America, a great chance to see the world. 

On her return she was appointed as the Marketing Director for Divine Chocolate, this exposed Charlotte to Fairtrade and the impact of how trade can help communities. A company owned by its Cocoa farmers, a chance to make a difference in the world. She enjoyed this new challenge managing people, as well as marketing new flavours of chocolate. This is when she realised that marketing can help the planet, people and communities.

Charlotte then went onto Pots & Co a young premium desserts company, again with a link to chocolate. With Charlottes ethical and Fairtrade background, this too was a business ensuring produce is ethically and fairly produced.  This was a brief post of a year or so, as she was given an opportunity to go and live in Chicago.

Charlotte sees her Chicago move as an opportunity to develop and widen her experiences. She currently seeks a role with a big portion of equality served up. 

Tip for OCS Alumni/pupils

Her top tip for students is to realise that education is a powerful tool, for you and how you can help others benefit. Her travels to Ghana allowed her to see how the sale of chocolate bars/ puddings help educate women and children in the villages. 

We thank Charlotte for her time, and wish her all the best with her new chapter in Chicago.