Aneesah Masood

Coming out of sixth form, I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do. My original university choice didn’t pan out, so I ended up taking a gap year to reflect and rethink. That time gave me space to ask myself: what do I actually enjoy? Editing kept coming back as the answer. The process of creating something from scratch and the pride that comes with watching it back, especially when it connects with others (or even goes viral!).

That reflection led me to discover the BA Digital Marketing course, completely by chance. It was a two-year programme, no exams, and honestly, I thought: why not? What started as a backup turned out to be the beginning of something that made sense for me.

I ended up attending Forward at BCU where I met Dre, co-founder of Tribera, who introduced me to the agency. After a little light stalking, I came across the Academy. What has drawn me in so far was seeing people with stories so similar to mine, and it’s made the industry feel less intimidating and much more approachable.

What drew me to marketing was the discovery that it’s not just one thing, it’s a whole system of moving parts, each one as important as the next. I’ve always been drawn to creative work, especially within social media, but it was marketing that gave that creativity a real-world outlet and purpose.

I’m naturally curious, so diving into all the different branches of marketing, from creative to strategy, felt more exciting rather than overwhelming as time went on. That curiosity is what led me to Tribera and, eventually, the Academy, where I could see the theory I’d learned brought to life in real ways. 

For me, it’s my local city. I’m not one to stray too far away from home, especially at the start of my career, and so I wanted to explore what Birmingham had to offer. It’s full of diversity and familiarity that helps me thrive. Being surrounded by communities that reflect parts of my own identity, culture, and interests has helped me thrive, both personally and professionally. It just made sense to start where I already feel connected.

For sure, the social week. While I had a natural interest in it already, it really opened my eyes to the inner workings of how it went. You can rock up with an iPhone and smile but there’s a complete internal plan on how to approach 6-8 hour content shoot days. The details of shot lists and itineraries eliminated the anxiety, the team knew when to come, where to meet up, and what to do immediately. 

Additionally, being able to have those mentoring sessions with real professionals in their field, so tuned into their world that they could give such meaningful advice. 

In 2–3 years, I see myself growing into a creative role where I’m not just contributing ideas but helping shape campaigns from start to finish. 

I want to be part of a team where strategy and creativity go hand-in-hand, ideally working on projects that have purpose and connect with people. I’d like to have built a solid foundation in social and digital marketing, become more confident in my decision-making, and be trusted to lead on projects.

I also hope to mentor others coming into the industry the way I’ve been supported at Tribera and at University, making the space feel even more accessible. 

The areas of marketing I’m most passionate about are social media and creative. Social media feels like second nature to me. It's where culture moves, conversations happen, and brands really get to show personality. I love how fast-paced and reactive it is, but also how strategic it needs to be to cut through the noise. 

On the creative side, I’m drawn to storytelling and finding ways to turn ideas into visuals, words, or campaigns that resonate. Whether it’s content creation, video editing, or coming up with concepts, I enjoy the process of turning a simple idea into something that grabs attention and makes people feel something. Combining both areas lets me tap into what I enjoy most: creating with purpose, and always thinking about the audience on the other side of the screen

Really random but after a game of bullsh*t, I realised I can name every Formula 1 world champion from 2000 onwards in under 30 seconds. If you see me in person, feel free to test me…