Amber Rapley

Tell us about your role at ICONIC LONDON

My role involves working closely within the social media team to plan content for all of ICONIC LONDON’s social media channels, with a strong emphasis on Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok. I help to bring innovative social-first thinking and ideas to the team, create campaign briefs for videos and images, while also reaching out and finding influencers, make-up artists and talent to work with. The community side of my title means that I’m always active on social listening across all channels, working with PR and customer care. Being proactive and reactive with community engagement is one of the most important parts of my role and I find it so rewarding seeing all the positivity and excitement in our ICONIC community.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Building relationships with talent, management, brands and, of course, our ICONIC followers. I also really enjoy being on the pulse with trends and content opportunities while being a social storyteller. I feel so lucky to be a part of the ever-growing beauty world – it has such a positive buzz about it. Every day is different, but I know that every day will be exciting and give me a chance to learn something new.

How do you feel your studies at Solent helped prepare you for your career?

Studying on the beauty promotion degree prepared me for the industry I’m now working in more than I could imagine. It’s true what they say: "Do what you love, and you’ll never work another day in your life." From the industry professionals I was so lucky to be taught by, to the guest speakers and facilities that Solent offered, I couldn’t have wished for a better course to get me ready for my career.

The course I studied is an industry-focused course that gives you the opportunity to study all the many types of jobs in the beauty world – you get experience like no other, and I’m so proud to be a part of the 2020 alumni! Studying at Solent gave me the confidence to approach with an open mind any task that might be out of my comfort zone and to remain positive throughout. When it comes down to it, remember – you can do whatever you put your mind to.

What's your favourite memory from your time at Solent?

Extremely clichéd, but meeting some of the most talented and inspiring people. I was so lucky to have a small course group, but we all got on so well. I can remember my first day when we all went around the group and had to say who inspired us. Little did I know that two years later it would be all those people in the room who inspired me the most. I feel so proud of us all, and I know that each and every one of us has a successful future in the industry ahead of us.

What advice would you give to those wanting to follow in your footsteps?

One piece of advice that I always try to remember is: good things take time, and just because one door has closed, it doesn’t mean a better one won’t open. We live in a world that is full of what is perceived as ‘perfection’, but in reality, life really is a rollercoaster and what might seem bad at first can roll out into a direction that you would never have seen coming.