My first name is Laura. My family call me Maria. You can call me Elle.

I was born and mostly raised in the West Midlands, and now live in North Yorkshire with my partner, teenager and (almost) toddler.

Having my firstborn at the tender age of 19 did nothing to quench my determination. I started my undergraduate degree six weeks after giving birth, volunteered for three years with a local charity, and went on to complete my MA in English Literature at the University of York.

I study and write alongside my full-time role, leading the comms team of a national charity supporting prisoners, people with convictions, and their families. I have in-house and agency experience, and in my previous role, I worked closely with commercial B2C and B2B organisations across the UK and internationally.

I’m a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and hold a Professional Diploma in Strategic Marketing (Digital). In June 2021, I achieved Chartered Marketer status. This is assessed yearly and demonstrates that I am both up to date and qualified to CIM standards. Despite this, I still suffer from crippling self-doubt and moments of complete worthlessness. Luckily, I have amazing family, friends and colleagues to keep me on track!

Did I mention that I’m autistic? That probably explains the obsession with all things marketing. While it’s been a challenge at times and not something I usually broadcast, I’m pleased that the world of work seems to be moving toward embracing diversity of thought. Not all of my employers have appreciated my brutal honesty or somewhat unconventional style, but I’ve now reached a point in my life where I genuinely believe that it’s their loss. More companies would be much better placed if they welcomed neurodivergence and didn’t expect their staff to be mindless automatons.

All in all, I’m not special. I take each day as it comes and hope that in sharing my knowledge and experiences, I can help at least one person somewhere in the world.

Yours, Elle.