An interview with Carly – 10 year work anniversary

Ever since that fateful day a decade ago when she attended her 2nd interview on Halloween, toting a pumpkin (that she was jokingly asked to prepare), Carly certainly ‘understood the assignment’.

And now some 10 years later, we’ve caught up with Carly to recap on her life at mso.

First things first, what was your first role at mso?

I actually joined as a Project Coordinator, working to aid each of mso’s Account Manager’s with the administration side of project management; preparing quotes, creating reports, writing content etc.

Basically doing any tasks that I could to alleviate some of the stress from the team!

And what first attracted you to the Project Coordinator role?

I was desperate to get back into a creative industry.

I worked as a Marketing Coordinator at an advertising agency when I was 20 when website advertising was just an emerging trend and it piqued my interest.

Unfortunately I was made redundant and in my following roles, although largely customer service based (which I loved), were in industries that didn’t excite me.

So when I saw the job posting, I was immediately interested, and then with further research into the company and its culture, I was even more interested – so I applied and the rest is history!

Can you remember what your first day was like?

I can! I was incredibly nervous, but the team was so welcoming.

Even those that I was yet to directly interact with popped me a DM on our internal chat facility to say hello and let me know that they were there for questions etc.

I also remember my desk sat in front of the most vibrant orange wall you’ve ever seen (very on brand).

Rather opportunistically I was also wearing orange, so was almost perfectly camouflaged!

How has your role changed over the years?

Very early on into my time with mso, I showed an aptitude for managing projects and dealing with clients and within the year was promoted to a Junior Project Manager with my own catalogue of clients.

As time went on, this catalogue grew and subsequently I upgraded to Project Manager, which was my role up until returning from maternity leave in September 2022!

Now I’m Performance Manager, which means that I’m on the flipside of the web development process, making sure that our websites continue to perform optimally post launch with search engine optimisation and ongoing maintenance for technical health.

What has been your biggest mso achievement to date?

From a work perspective, it was definitely taking on my first solo client, The Port of London Authority, way back when. Working with the team at the PLA was always a pleasure and a huge learning experience for me.

On a more social-mso level, it would have to be when we raised ​​£2,837 for Care International UK, trekking 13 miles over the mountains of Snowdonia.

The views from the top of Snowdon were breathtaking!

What is your favourite part about your role?

I love ensuring that our clients continue to see results from their website beyond its delivery.

By using analytical data to inform decision making, we can maintain the website and its search performance to make sure our clients are always one step ahead of their competitors.

Do you have a favourite project that you have worked on?

There are so many, it sounds so cliche, but our websites are like our babies as we see them grow throughout the project process.

Each presented their own unique challenges and quirks.

So rather diplomatically I will say that I can’t possibly choose.

What are you most looking forward to in the future?

There’s so much exciting stuff that we’re working on and so much energy for the future of mso, so watch this space!

Which three 3 words would you use to describe mso?

Creative, energetic, knowledgeable 🍊

So more about you as a person, tell us an obscure fact about yourself!

I interned at the BBC when I was 20 and had a brief cameo in a Top Gear episode called The Smallest Car in the World, after Jeremy Clarkson drove through the office randomly in the Peel P50.

You can see me in all my youthful glory at 7:09 (I’m in the middle!).

What is one thing we don’t know about you?

I have a very eclectic taste in music.

From heavy metal, to reggae, 80’s pop or songs from musicals, I certainly keep my Spotify algorithm guessing!

Have you ever met your idol?

I have!

I was very fortunate to meet the wonderful Tom Hanks at a signing for his book, Uncommon Type, back in 2017.

As I had recently got engaged I gave him an invitation to my wedding and he RSVP’d with a typewritten letter.

It was an amazing and surreal experience and he is very much the lovely chap he’s made out to be.

​​On behalf of everyone at mso, we would like to congratulate Carly on her ten year work anniversary.