Phoebe Maxwell
Phoebe Maxwell is the Founder of Fivetwenty marketing, a marketing consultancy business who aren’t afraid to push boundaries to attract attention.
No one ever got anywhere by playing it safe and Phoebe embraces thinking outside the box and executing stand out marketing.
- Tell us a little bit about your business…
Launched in 2022, Fivetwenty marketing is all about using creative marketing to attract attention. We focus on driving sales and increasing brand awareness by making sure our partners cut through the noise whether that’s through creative strategy, team development, campaign execution and so much more.
We have worked with a number of different businesses across a variety of industries, including the creative industries, music, events, tech, education and gaming, working both in-house and agency as well as B2B and B2C.
- How did you get into the industry?
I have been working in marketing for 10 years and to be honest – I fell into it. After studying journalism at university, I could always write and decided to turn that into a career.
I started as a wedding planner when I left university and the company I worked for needed some marketing help so I asked if I could give it a shot – I absolutely loved it and the rest is history.
From there, I completed marketing courses, learned on the job (the best way to do it) and have now worked for a number of different businesses across a variety of industries.
Setting up Fivetwenty came on the back of everything I learned and the gaps I could see in the market when working in a full-time permanent position.
- What are the biggest opportunities and challenges in your industry?
I think it’s obvious when you look on LinkedIn what the challenges are in marketing right now. When companies begin to struggle – their knee jerk reaction is to slash their marketing budget.
However, for Fivetwenty marketing, this has provided an opportunity. We are able to slot in as an extra pair of hands for as long or as little as business need, keeping their marketing ticking over and keeping their businesses at the forefront of people’s minds – even during hard times.
Once they are out the other side of their financial worries, we are able to come in and build back up a successful and seamless marketing department.
- How would you describe your leadership style?
I am a strong believer in the phrase ‘a manager makes you feel like they’re important. A lead makes you feel like you’re important’.
I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty and from someone who has worked up from a marketing executive to the founder of a marketing business, I am aware of all the different people within marketing teams and want to develop their skills so that they can progress too.
Seeing people work their way up the ladder is one of the main reasons I love what I do!
- How do you get the most out of the people who work for you?
Firstly, I don’t want people to think they work ‘for’ me. They work with me.
Secondly, trust. Trust them and empower them.
I am always here as a sounding board but I want them to be confident to make their own decisions.
This makes them feel valued and when people feel valued, they shine.
- What are the most crucial elements to your business running smoothly and being successful?
Here at Fivetwenty marketing, we work with businesses whose values align with our own. This allows us to build strong relationships ensuring our business and partnerships to run smoothly.
Also, having a strong pool of experts that we can tap into – if someone in marketing tells you they can do absolutely everything – they’re not telling the truth. Always work with/hire people who are better at your job than you.
- How has the past 12 months been for you?
Incredible. I am very fortunate to have a bunch of amazing clients both in the UK and US that we have worked with for a while with no signs of stopping.
We are achieving exciting things together and it’s amazing to be a part of it.
Personally I have also bought a house, got engaged and booked our wedding – so it’s really been the best year yet.
- What will the next 12 months look like for your business?
Very exciting and our aim is to scale our team. We have some great new clients in the pipeline as well as some huge announcements with current ones.
- What are the highlights of your career so far?
Setting up my own business. That’s all there is to it.
- What’s the biggest business mistake that you’ve learnt from?
This might sound cliche, but I don’t see things as ‘mistakes’. You have to make mistakes to learn so making them is important.
- What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve been given?
Hire and work with people who are better at your job than you.
