How Salford Business School Has Prepared Me for a Career as a Marketing Manager
…or perhaps, a Content Marketing Manager. (I’ll leave that to fate.)
I still remember the first day I walked into Anakle’s open-plan workspace in Lagos, Nigeria, as an intern. ‘Whoa! How did I end up here? I know nothing about digital marketing. What even is content marketing?’ I thought to myself, equal parts excited and overwhelmed.
A photo from my intern days at Anakle, taken after a lively brainstorming session in the open-plan workspace.
I joined the Forward by Anakle internship program, where I worked with different teams to get hands-on experience in digital marketing. It was exhilarating. Terrifying. The kind of environment that forces you to grow- from day one!
On the set of a production, while working as a content writer at Anakle, interviewing Editi Effiong, CEO of Anakle Films
A year later, I found myself leading that same program as the Program Coordinator—mentoring new interns and managing the moving parts I once struggled to understand—all while working as a content writer for multiple product-led and fintech brands and moonlighting as a producer or set assistant.
I thought I had arrived—content marketing, content strategy, copywriting, market research… I was ticking all the boxes. Yet, something still nagged at me.
I wanted more.
A few years later, I found myself walking through the doors of Murtala Mohammed Airport, boarding a 19-hour flight to Manchester, United Kingdom.
Fast-forward to my first day at Salford Business School. I felt the same mix of dread and excitement as I had during my first weeks as an intern. Only this time, the stakes were different.
I wasn’t a fresh-faced intern anymore. I was a content marketer with three years of experience—someone who had crafted content strategies and social media marketing ideas for startups, written copy for fintech companies, and even worked on campaigns for a Nigerian telecom giant. However, transitioning from my non-linear background in law to digital marketing left some gaps I still needed to fill.
Salford Business School offered me something that work experience alone could not: the chance to hit pause, immerse myself in theory, and refine the craft I’d learned on the job.
From Work to the Classroom
When I walked into my first class—Digital Marketing Strategy and Analytics, taught by Amir Khan—I felt both nervous and excited. Even though I’d worked in the industry for a few years, it was my first time learning marketing in a structured way. Coming from a law background, I wanted to understand the theories behind digital marketing.
At Salford, I didn’t just learn about digital marketing. I learned why things work and how to improve them.
For example, I knew how to write great content and develop content strategies, but in class, I was introduced to frameworks like AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action) and RACE (Reach, Act, Convert, Engage). These helped me understand how to analyze consumer behavior and gain marketing insights.
We explored the theoretical side of social media through models like the Honeycomb model and self-presentation theory, which gave me a deeper understanding of online interactions.
I also learned how to use PESTLE to assess macro-factors that could impact a business environment, and applied Porter’s Five Forces to analyze the internal dynamics of a gamified business simulation.
We debated bounce rates, ad performance, and how to make data-driven decisions. It wasn’t just fun (thanks to Magda’s interactive menti sessions)—it made me challenge my assumptions. Our lecturers didn’t just teach us; they pushed us to apply these concepts to real-world problems.
Take SEO, for example. I always thought of it as a tool for boosting rankings. But at Salford, I learned to see SEO as much more than just keywords. I even developed a new interest in technical SEO—something I had previously avoided during most of my early years in the field.
What I Gained
Salford made me better at connecting the dots. I learned to look at marketing holistically, not just as separate parts like content, SEO, or social media.
Content Strategy: I now think beyond the surface—how content fits into a larger business goal and what data tells us about its success.
SEO: Now, I understand it’s about creating content that aligns with user intent while keeping up with how search engines evolve.
Data: I used to avoid marketing analytics because they felt intimidating. But courses like Digital Marketing Analytics taught me how to break down data and use it to improve campaigns.
More than anything, Salford made me more confident. From the very first week, when we were thrown into a business simulation, I started sharpening my leadership and communication skills. I learned how to manage team projects, collaborate effectively, and juggle all the moving parts that come with dealing with business issues. These are the skills I know I’ll rely on as a marketing manager or content marketing manager in the future.
My Favorite Moments
A group photo of my classmates and my lecturer after one of our many seminar sessions.
One of the highlights of the program for me was the seminar sessions. Collaborating with classmates to create PowerPoint presentations in 30 minutes or less, bombarding my lecturers with questions (who were always patient and willing to explain as many times as needed), discussing assessment briefs, and sharing updates on the latest happenings in the marketing industry.
It was incredible to see how quickly ideas came together when we worked as a team, blending creativity and strategy under tight deadlines. The energy in the room made the learning experience hands-on and truly engaging.
Ready for the Next Step
So, how has Salford prepared me for a career in digital marketing?
It’s helped me understand marketing on a deeper level, become more confident in handling data, and refine my skills in content marketing and strategy. I’m no longer just a content marketer—I can now see the bigger picture and use data to tell meaningful stories.
Now, when I look at campaigns, creative ads, or even copy, I don’t just focus on the creative side. I think about the strategy, the story, the audience, and the numbers driving it all.
More than anything, Salford Business School has equipped me with real-world, employable skills. I often reflect on my journey in digital marketing—and the invaluable advice I received from my senior lecturer, pictured below with a group of Digital Marketing Master’s students after one of our seminar sessions.
“Where you want to be might change as you move through life—and that’s okay.”
A group photo of Digital Marketing students in the elevator with our Senior Lecturer.