Lauren Creed, currently working with Pizza Hut
as a Sr. Brand Analyst, is our guest for this blog. In this edition, she talks
with us about the places she has lived in, her work experience, her love for
sports and much more. Read on for a walk down her memory lane:
Q. how long have you been in Dallas and what brought you here?
I moved to Dallas in January
2014 to work for Pizza Hut Corporate. I moved from NYC where I lived for 8
years, 4 of which were spent at Fordham University for my Undergraduate Degree
and 4 were spent working at the New York Post in Ad Sales.
Q. Tell something
about the job that you have at Pizza Hut and what things you handle?
· I am also the acting Brand Manager on beverages and oversee our partnerships with Pepsi and Dr. Pepper.
· I launched two National windows last year featuring Pepsi and Blake Shelton in conjunction with our BBQ Pizza and Bacon and Cheese Stuffed Crust Pizza launches.
· I am a member of the Beverage Committee and work closely with the 7 other members of the committee to make high-level beverage decisions throughout the year.
Q. You seem to have
experience with marketing skills as you have worked as a brand analyst. Now
that digital space is growing and we have apps in our hands, how do you see the
future of marketing promotions shaping up?
Digital market is growing. An
average person spends more time on their phones and computers than anywhere
else. Millennials are the number one target audience for most companies, and
part of understanding Millennials is understanding the entire digital space.
Companies without e-commerce sites or mobile friendly sites will lose over the
next few years. Taco Bell is an example of a company that has done a phenomenal
job of growing their business by focusing on the digital space.
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| This here sure looks like a boon of digital age. :) |
Q. With the digital
marketing space, the competition has increased . Facebook has
opened up opportunities for start-ups to find ground. What are the
challenges faced by a brand like Pizza Hut in such a case or for that matter by any old and big brand?
Looking at Pizza Hut
specifically, our biggest battles are combating what the competition is doing. The
Millennial audience wants to feel like they are eating something unique and
customizable every time they step out the door, so the battle for bigger and
older companies, such as Pizza Hut, is to figure out a way to be true to the
brand and core consumer, while also figuring out a way to draw in that younger
consumer by offering variety, fresh flavors and unique eating options.
Q. Do you have fond
memories of Australia? Do you miss something back home? Would you like to be
there some day again? May be settle back in Sydney?
I have very fond memories of
Australia. I am actually 11th generation Australian, despite not having an
accent, and my entire family was born and raised there. I spent 7 years living
in Sydney when I was 6 – 13 years old and am given the amazing opportunity to
go back on a yearly basis to visit family and friends. What I miss most about
Australia is my family, and the food. The food is much better over
there…Vegemite anyone?
Q. We play Cricket
together- any sports you have a special liking towards?
I am actually the co-captain
of a Kickball league that I started at Pizza Hut last year. We play every
Thursday, and it is more of a social league than a professional league, but we
have a lot of fun and it is a great way to meet new people, especially if you
are new to the Dallas area!
Q. Expectations
from life@Cox and post Cox?
I expect to learn about a lot
of the areas that will help build upon my overall marketing skills. After
working at Pizza Hut for a year, I now realize how all parts of business affect
my current role. The marketing team works closely with Finance, R&D,
Consumer Insights, Digital, Operations, etc. on every product that we launch
and I am excited to learn more about these particular areas so I can bring that
knowledge with me to my next job. After Cox, I aspire to become a Brand Manager
at a CPG company. I haven’t decided which company yet, so I will lean on Cox
and their amazing networking events and opportunities to help me figure that
out.
Q. Any
special memories that you would like to share with the class. Something that
has had an impact on you and shaped you as a person?
I briefly mentioned this before, but I have been
fortunate enough to live in a few different countries throughout my life. I was
born in London, spent time in NYC, Australia, California, back to NYC and
eventually landing in Dallas. I really feel like this has helped to shape the
person that I am today, and I look forward to meeting lots of new people at SMU
who are also from many different places (whether in the US or in the world).
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| My name is Zoey and you better not mess with Lauren! |
Q. Business
over! what do you like taking on to in your free time?
As mentioned earlier, I am
the co-captain of a Kickball league. I am also a commissioner for the entire
league, and help organize any events that we have throughout the season. I am
also an animal activist and have been volunteering with animal shelters since I
was 18. I currently volunteer with Dallas Pets Alive and organize their Google
Plus social page. As a huge animal lover, I have an English bulldog named Zoey,
7 years old, and a cat named Mason, 1 year old. Lastly, I am taking a
Children’s Book Writing course which ends at the end of March, and I am hoping
to write my first Children’s Book by the end of the year.
Q. Do
you expect Michael Clarke to bring the World Cup 2015 home?
I may not have my Australian
accent anymore, but I am still a huge fan of all Australian sports. To answer
your question, YES, Australia will bring home the World Cup 2015….Aussie Aussie
Aussie, Oi Oi Oi!
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| Pirate Lauren! Welcome to Dallas. |
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