Tomorrow's Talent Q&A: Alex Cartlidge, Salesforce

This week we spoke with our next Tomorrow’s Talent winner, Alex Cartlidge, events and marketing associate at Salesforce, to learn more about her ambitions for the future and how she believes this award will fast track her career.

What does it mean for you to be named as a winner of Tomorrow’s Talent 2020?
It means so much, it was such a surprise and I think it’s a much needed confidence boost during the current climate but I also think this is going to be a great opportunity for me to expand my network, to learn more and to really take my career into my own hands with the support of amazing people around me.

How are you going to celebrate?
I’ll definitely have a small glass of bubbles and I think for me, it’s important to be telling family and friends my good news because during this climate it’s always really good to share any positive news that you do get.

How do you think the meetings and events industry needs to adapt to continue to attract new talent?
I think it would be great if we could get some more dedicated internships and work placement schemes to really showcase the variety of the events industry and also the multitude of career options and paths that are available.
Secondly, I think it is the skill set. If anything, this year has taught us how adaptive and fluid the events industry is and the importance of innovation and for me it certainly has highlighted a whole new set of skills that can be added to the events industry skill set which I hope will attract and inject new talent to the industry.

What’s your advice for someone starting out in the meetings and events industry?
My advice would be to do as much practical experience as possible, even if this means that you have to do it for free. By doing this experience you will not only broaden your knowledge and awareness of the different areas within the industry, but it will also help you work out what areas of this industry you like and what maybe you don’t like. It’s ok not to like certain areas because this will really help you forge your path and your career forward within the industry. Ultimately, knowing what you like is going to give you job satisfaction in the long run.

What are your ambitions for the next one year? Five years? Ten years?
My ambition for the next year is to continue and develop in the role that I’m in. I think especially during this current climate we are having to transition into a virtual world and we’re flexing some new muscles as we innovate into the future and I’d like to continue on this journey through that innovation.
In five years, I will have a team of my own, and I think I would also like to be in the position where I’m able to mentor other new talents coming into the industry and give back in the same way that so many others have done for me during my career.
Then, I think in 10 years, because it seems a long way off - I’m going to focus more on the journey than the destination. This year has shown us that anything can happen, innovations are always around the corner so ultimately, as long as I have a good work/life balance and I’m happy, I guess that’s all I can hope for and the journey will take me where it does.