Callum Davidson: BA (Hons) Media Production

Full Name: Callum Davidson
Graduation Year: 2016
Course Studied: Media Production
Job Title: Creative Services Manager
Organisation: Monster Energy
What inspired you to study at the University of Lincoln?: The facilities are second to none. The location of the University is stunning, the city is amazing. Such a great combination of so many great reasons.
What was your favourite thing about being a student at the University of Lincoln?: The level of support I got was incredible. Both of my grandparents passed away when I was studying at Lincoln and my lecturers, and peers was so supportive. I never felt any immense pressure or struggle to complete my work and always felt very guided. The city is amazing, such an underrated city in the UK, large enough to feel like there is always something to do or see, but small enough to walk from one side to the other.
What are you doing now you have graduated from the University of Lincoln?: So I left university working in retail, just so I could save up some money for my own flat and get a new car. Whilst biding my time for a really interesting job to come up. It was then I found myself working for Ideal World, as an Assistant producer in shopping television. This actually used a lot of the skills I gained from working in retail – margins, POS, sales tools etc whilst applying them in a creative way. I soon transitioned over to the Creative Services team, creating sales tools for live broadcasts. Acting as a creative project manager, creating video content, scripting voice overs, commissioning design work, creating social media assets, animations and so much more to aid the sale of products on television. I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to work for Monster Energy, as a creative services manager. Here my role consists of a lot of the same work as Ideal world under a different brand, however with the aim of growing the team, expending from just designing POS for print and digital content expanding to video content and 3D model design. I work with all areas of the business supporting the EMEA region for all Monster brands. Being the point of contact across many time zones for all things creative content.
How did your time at the University of Lincoln support your career?: Strangely it was less of the actual course content that helped me most. It was actually the general life skills that it taught me. Lincoln taught me to be tenacious, persistent, and forward thinking. One lesson in particular was to “Ask the question” – not getting anything handed to me on a plate and not being afraid to ask questions.
What are the best parts of your job?: I get to go to all the Monster Sponsored events should I wish. Everything from the F1, to MotoGP, to the UFC. Each day is never the same, new challenges, new problems to solve, and new people to work with across so many different countries.
What have been your greatest achievements since leaving University?: Professionally it would be working on the new Lewis Hamilton flavour of Monster Energy and seeing my work across shops in my city.
If you could give our current students any top tips for after graduation and their careers, what would these be?: Don’t give up, everything is an experience. If I would have thought as a recent graduate, working in retail that I would end up working for the largest energy drink brand in the world I wouldn’t believe it. But my experience then has helped me get to where I am now. Media is everywhere, you just have to look for it.