Charles Theseira
2018 Marketing BSc graduate Charles is Global Partnerships Manager at Next Level Racing in Singapore.
Interview
Since graduating, what have you gone on to do?
After graduating, I relocated to Hong Kong for a job within the motorsport industry to chase my passion, whilst also being close to my family in Singapore. I was a Marketing and PR Executive with Craft-Bamboo Racing, an official Mercedes-AMG team that races in various GT3 and GT4 championships around the world. As part of my role, I conceptualise and execute creative marketing campaigns for various global brands, such as: Porsche Design, Evisu Jeans, Tsingtao beer and more, leveraging our racing activities. I also wrote press releases, created social media content and assets, outsource photo and videography, budgets, and much more.
This experience has allowed me to progress to my current role as Global Partnerships Manager at Next Level Racing, where I am responsible for growth in Asia through various community programmes.
Is the above what you planned to do before starting university?
Absolutely. I've always desired a career working in the unique and fast-paced motorsport industry, I've had a passion for racing cars for as long as I can remember.
What was your favourite thing about your course?
The streamlined content that was not too heavy yet direct and informative during the lectures was very useful and this knowledge has already been applied many times over at my current job role. I found the online availability of lectures particularly useful.
Did you complete a placement year/study abroad/summer internship during your time at Newcastle?
I did a placement year at Goodyear Dunlop Tyres in Birmingham, doing Brand Marketing for the UK and Ireland markets. During my time there I worked across both the Goodyear and Dunlop and played a part in making Dunlop the top tyre company in the UK on social media in 2017. I also worked on various sponsorship leveraging opportunities, such as the British Touring Car Championship and the World Endurance Championship, amongst other things, such as B2B customer incentive programs and events planning.
What extra-curricular activities or societies were you involved with during your time here?
I was in the Motorsport Society and it was the best part of my university life. The close friendships I made during those long van journeys across the country were the cherry on the race car cake.
How do you see future technologies and new ways of working (future of work) affecting your sector?
I think that traditional marketing has been blown out of the water with new digital mediums of advertising being able to reach the masses at far lower costs. Marketing budgets are getting ever smaller, and traditional marketing ROI is slowly diminishing with time. Newspapers and TV advertising may still be relevant for the older generation but with the influx of new media, such as Social Media Influencers and eSports platforms, I believe that there will be more creative solutions for brands to reach their goals.
Where do you see yourself in five years' time?
Being a marketable personality and working with sponsors to fund my own racing.
There is no such thing as luck, you must create your own opportunities in life.