From Cold Calls to Podcasts: Alex’s Startup Marketing Journey.

Meet Alex.

She’s always loved languages, studying German and Italian at Oxford but by the time she graduated, she was curious about the business world too. That led her to a commercial grad scheme, and eventually, into the world of sales and marketing.

She kicked things off in business development at Pernod Ricard, a major wine and spirits company. It was fast-paced, commercial, and involved a lot of cold calls. Not always glamorous, but definitely a crash course in communication. Still, after a while, she started looking for something with more room to be creative and actually see the impact of her work.

That search led her to Jumpstart and then to Wondercraft in May 2024.

We sat down with Alex to chat about pivoting into startup marketing, learning on the go, and how your interests can show up in your career in ways you don’t always expect.

Jumpstart Let’s start at the beginning, what were you doing before Wondercraft?

Alex: I studied German and Italian at university, which I really enjoyed. But toward the end, I realised I wanted to explore something more commercial, so I applied to a few grad schemes and landed at Pernod Ricard. I started in sales and marketing, then moved into a full-time business development role. It was very sales-heavy, lots of cold calling, lots of targets. It was a real training ground in how to hold people’s attention and get to the point quickly.

Jumpstart: So, what made you want to move into the startup world?

Alex: I liked some parts of working at a big company, but after a while, I felt like I couldn’t really see the impact of what I was doing. It’s easy to feel like a very small cog in a very big wheel. I wanted to work somewhere smaller, where things moved quickly and I could get involved in different areas.That’s when my sister tagged me in a LinkedIn post about Jumpstart. The startup world can feel quite closed if you don’t already know people in it, and Jumpstart really helped me figure out what kinds of roles might actually suit me. My advice? Wait for a company that genuinely clicks with you, not just one that sounds cool.

Jumpstart What made Wondercraft stand out?

Alex: Funny enough, they actually reached out to me through Jumpstart. They said something like, “Hey, you’ve studied languages, we’re building a creative AI studio that works with voice, accents, audio creation…” I’d never worked in AI before, but I’ve always been fascinated by voice and sound, so I was immediately intrigued.

There was something really interesting about it. Even if I didn’t know the space well yet, I felt like it could be a space I could grow into.

Jumpstart: What does your role look like now?

Alex: I started with more of a sales and marketing split, but over time it’s shifted into a content-focused role. These days I’m working on everything from case studies and creator partnerships to our podcast and social content.

Everyone says you wear loads of hats in startups and yeah, that’s absolutely true. One day I’m planning case studies, the next I’m producing a podcast episode, and then suddenly I’m mapping out a go-to-market campaign. It’s definitely a lot, but it’s also a really good way to figure out what you enjoy (and what you definitely don’t!).

Jumpstart: Since you’ve leaned more into content, what’s helped you make that shift?

Alex: Honestly? Just being open to figuring things out as I go. The best mindset in a startup is, “I’ve never done this before, but I’ll give it a shot.” It’s not about having every skill upfront, it’s about learning quickly and not being too precious when things need to change.

Jumpstart That’s such a great mindset. Are there any projects you’ve worked on that have been particularly exciting?

Alex: The podcast, Makes You Wonder, for sure. It was the first thing I worked on, literally on day one. I had zero audio editing experience, but I just started Googling things and testing stuff out. Now it’s one of my favourite parts of the job.

I’ve also really enjoyed building creator partnerships. It’s got some of that human connection I liked in sales, but with way more creative freedom.

Jumpstart: That’s so cool! What’s your favourite part about working in marketing?

Alex: I love trying to understand who we’re actually speaking to; digging into that ideal customer profile is kind of like solving a puzzle. You have to figure out how to talk to people in a way that really lands, and that process is always changing.

Also, finding ways to tie our content to cultural moments or conversations; that’s the part that feels the most fun to me. That mix of strategic and creative is what keeps me interested.

Jumpstart: It sounds like you’ve really found your lane.

Alex: I definitely feel more like I’m in the right place now, though I wouldn’t say everything’s perfect all the time. It’s still a job, and there are tough days. But I feel like I can put more of myself into this work, and that’s rare.

In my Wondercraft interview, we spent ages talking about a documentary I made with a friend in Albania. Totally unrelated to the job, but it sparked a conversation about content, storytelling, and curiosity. That was the moment I realised this team cared about what actually drives people, not just what’s on their CV.

Alex’s journey is a reminder that careers don’t have to follow a straight line  and that sometimes, the things you care about most sneak their way into your work when you least expect it. Whether it’s audio, content, or creative strategy, she’s found a space to explore what lights her up.

Alex now works at Wondercraft, a creative AI studio where brands and creatives can sketch with AI audio and soon, video!

If you’re looking for a startup role where you can grow, Jumpstart might just be your way in.