This summer, I was given the incredible opportunity to shadow Holly Lyman at Dentsu for two days at their London office. This connection came about through networking at a Working Options conference at Google, and I was fully supported by the charity throughout the process.

My initial thoughts about the work experience were that I’d be stepping into an impressive, modern office and really embracing the London business atmosphere — and it completely exceeded my expectations. What surprised me most was just how social and collaborative the marketing and media industry really is, and I absolutely loved that. As someone who enjoys meeting and communicating with new people, being immersed in the industry felt completely natural to me.Holly kindly sent me a jam-packed schedule for my two days, and I really got to see the full scope of Dentsu and its wide variety of responsibilities. What I appreciated most was that Holly never made me feel like a hindrance — she was incredibly encouraging and genuinely wanted me to get involved. She introduced me to so many people, each with different roles across the company, which gave me a real appreciation for how vast the industry is. The unity at Dentsu really stood out to me — the way all departments collaborate on projects and the friendly, welcoming atmosphere made a big impression.

This experience also helped me grow personally — it enhanced my independence, as I had to navigate my way around London to the office on my own. My confidence and communication skills developed throughout the two days, and I noticed real growth in my professional attitude. In fact, some employees even mistook me for someone who already worked there, which was such a compliment to how I carried myself!

The experience really opened my eyes to future career possibilities. Getting a first-hand feel for the industry has inspired me to seriously consider a career in advertising. This is a real testament to Dentsu — to their welcoming culture, strong values, and the incredible first impression they left on me.

The highlight of my placement was definitely meeting with so many different people, all working on exciting projects and with big-name brands. It was amazing to see Holly’s team working on accounts for companies like BMW, and to be part of conversations with other media firms and professionals.

Over the two days, I got to:
– Take part in a breakfast meeting
– Join Teams calls with brands and magazines
– Meet employees from a wide range of departments
– See a pitch set up
– Attend a Dentsu community meeting where Holly was leading a panel
– lunch meeting with Blis
– Receive invaluable career advice from professionals

Thank you again to Holly, Dentsu, and Working Options for this amazing opportunity that really broadened my knowledge of the marketing industry and future career opportunity.

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And, what motivated Holly to offer this work experience opportunity?

After meeting Katie at a Working Options x Google event, I was struck by her curiosity and enthusiasm. I remember thinking how valuable it would be for her to see the media industry from the inside and how little access young people often have to these environments without the right connections.

I wanted to give her the kind of experience I wish I’d had at her stage: immersive, supportive, and full of real insight into the industry. As someone passionate about social mobility, I saw this as an opportunity to not only support Katie’s career exploration but also help diversify the future talent pipeline.

Katie’s reflections really show how valuable first-hand exposure can be – work experience bridges the gap between ambition and access giving young people the confidence, clarity, and connections they need to turn potential into opportunity.

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If you would like to find out how your organisation can help young people like Katie to make a great start to their career journeys, please, get in contact with our Head of Programme, Claire McMaster.