At Branding Science, we believe that our greatest strength lies in the remarkable individuals who make up our team. They are the heart and soul of our company, driving innovation, shaping our culture, and helping us to achieve our mission.
In our team spotlights, we take you behind the scenes to meet a few of the many talented and dedicated professionals who make up our team.
For this team spotlight, we chatted to our Research Manager, Jess Finney, all about her role at Branding Science, including her proudest achievements, thoughts on the industry and some of the highlights of the job. Read our full interview below.
Hi Jess, can you tell us a bit about your role at Branding Science and what you do on a day-to-day basis?
I am a research manager at Branding Science. My role can be very varied day-to-day. It can involve activities such as collaborative discussions with colleagues to come up with new ideas for project methods, meeting with clients, reviewing materials, interviewing patients and healthcare professionals, and reporting on the insights we’ve uncovered. I manage my projects from start to finish, collaborating with my leads and executives on the project, ensuring we meet client objectives, and complete work to a high standard. I’m often the first point of contact for our clients during a project, and I also help to review work and coach the newer members of the team. I also find time to work on various company initiatives outside of projects, including our mental health initiative, our behavioural science centre of excellence, and other tasks I’m passionate about.
How long have you been with the company, and what has your journey been like so far?
I have been with Branding Science for three years. I’ve loved the journey so far. It was quite a transition for me, having worked in retail for five years previously, and I had also completed a masters in consumer psychology. I started the job in the middle of the pandemic, so it was challenging to learn a new job from home, but the company were incredibly supportive. My progression has been quite rapid, having begun as a graduate research executive, then becoming a research executive, followed by a senior research executive, and more recently a research manager. I’ve learnt a lot and had a lot of opportunities in quite a short period of time.
What would you say makes Branding Science unique in its industry?
There are two key things that stick out to me about Branding Science. The first is our holistic offering. We’re an insights-led consultancy, so we have a research team providing insights, a consultancy team providing strategies, and we also work closely with our sister company – Living Brand Productions who produce our video outputs – so we are a complete package. The second is the culture at Branding Science. We really value our people, and place a lot of importance on personal development, arranging social activities, and personal wellbeing.
Can you share a specific project or achievement that you are particularly proud of during your time here?
I have a few achievements I am particularly proud of within the last three years, one of which involved working on a project exploring the impact of stigma on patients across numerous conditions, which was a commended entry for a BOBI award. It’s a topic which has long been overlooked and uncovered some fascinating insights. I’ve also been involved in projects exploring how clinical trials can be optimised, which is a field of work I’m really proud to be involved in. Finally, I recently participated in the BOBI Best Newcomer competition, which really pushed me out of my comfort zone, but I found it a really rewarding experience and a great way to connect with others on a similar journey to me.
What do you appreciate most about your colleagues and the people you work with?
I appreciate everyone’s hard work, flexibility and strong communication skills. I’m particularly grateful for how much we value everyone’s voice, regardless of job title and level of experience.
Can you share any insights into how Branding Science encourages employee well-being?
Branding Science have a mental health initiative, which I am proud to be part of, whose aim is to support the mental wellbeing of our employees by raising awareness of mental health, making systematic changes and allowing for open communication across the team. We also have a contract with an employee assistance programme (EAP) and have trained mental health first aiders within the team. On top of this, we have a social committee whose organised events help contribute to the wellbeing of the company, giving us opportunities to have a break from work and reconnect with each other.
What’s your favourite way to unwind or recharge outside of work?
One of my personal favourite ways to unwind outside of work is to go to the theatre with friends, I love seeing different plays and musicals. The dancing and music is always amazing, and it’s a real escape from day-to-day life. I also like to get absorbed in watching a good tv crime drama, experiment with cooking different meals, or shop until I drop!
And finally, what advice would you give to someone considering a career at Branding Science or in the pharmaceutical research field?
My one piece of advice is to not be afraid of making a change and taking the leap, whether you’re coming from a similar company/field, or trying something completely different. Taking the leap from retail to pharmaceutical market research is one of the best things I’ve done, and you never know until you try.