The Masterclass in Marketing series will return in 2023

Huddersfield Business School is pleased to announce that the popular Masterclass in Marketing series will return in 2023 after a very successful year in 2022.

The Masterclass in Marketing is a series of webinars launched by Huddersfield Business School and the University of Huddersfield Marketing Society. The series aims to provide an engaging and beneficial extracurricular learning activity for marketing and business students, while also serving as an additional public engagement tool, regularly attracting local businesses, and national and international attendees.

The webinar series has become a popular resource for multiple stakeholders of Huddersfield Business School with exclusive speakers virtually presenting topics on contemporary marketing research insights and issues to current students, alumni, and external and business audiences.

In the last academic year, five marketing and communications experts presented a Masterclass in Marketing, including Jeff Boachie, Acquisition Manager at Shelter UK and Conrad Bird CBE, Head of Marketing and Campaigns at the UK Cabinet Office. Conrad presented in February 2022, sharing some of the most memorable campaigns that he developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and discussed the complexity of nationwide marketing decisions. Conrad explained how the UK Government used behavioural science, data analytics and AI to target different segments of the British public on life-saving campaigns such as the ‘Stay home, Save lives’ and ‘Hands, Face, Space’ appeals.

As well as cutting-edge practitioners, inspirational marketing ‘gurus’ have also presented, including Professor A. Parasuraman and Professor Robert Kozinets, who are thought leaders in the field of services marketing and online consumer research, and netnography. Funmi Williams, Distribution Director, Strategy and Planning at HSBC, Dr Naomi Turner, Head of Marketing and Communications at Arvato CRM Solutions, and alumnus, Matt Cowling, Head of Marketing for North America at Hewlett Packard (HP) have also presented.

Matt Cowling is a 1996 Huddersfield Business School graduate, who first began his career with Hewlett Packard (HP) as a placement student whilst studying at the University and has now worked there for almost 30 years. Matt’s talk was a very special one; hosted by the class of 1996 graduate, Helen Curtis, Founder and Managing Director of Coterie Marketing and member of the Huddersfield Business School Advisory Board. Matt shared his insights on how to create award-winning advertising campaigns and took part in a fantastic Q&A with the audience. Matt is joining the School in February 2023 to participate in its Development Week where he will continue to inspire students and talk about how to create a professional identity and brand yourself. 

Matt Cowling said: “There is nothing more rewarding than having the opportunity to pay it forward; to be given a chance to not only be reconnected to the institution that gave me so much but to also (hopefully) inspire the next generation of marketers, is honestly not only incredibly flattering and an honour, but also one of my highlights of 2022. I cannot wait to do more in 2023 and beyond.”  

Joanne Charlton, Vice President of the Marketing Society said: “We are delighted with the success of the Masterclass in Marketing series. I am incredibly proud to have played a part in organising such engaging speakers to share their marketing expertise. As a society, our goal is to organise events that students find beneficial for their social and academic university experience.”

Huddersfield Business School and the Marketing Society are continuing to work together along with Dr Haseeb Shabbir, the Course Leader for undergraduate marketing courses. Haseeb has played a key role in the series, supporting the Marketing Society by confirming speakers and hosting the webinars.

Dr Haseeb Shabbir said: “The Masterclass in Marketing Series demonstrates what is possible from joint student and staff initiatives. I am especially proud that our series is also available to the wider public and the School’s external partners, demonstrating our commitment to public and community engagement through student-led initiatives.”

Follow the Huddersfield Business School Marketing Society on LinkedIn to find out about the upcoming Masterclasses: www.linkedin.com/company/university-of-huddersfield-marketing-society/