Lauren Griffiths - Graduate Case Study
Lauren Griffiths graduated in 2022 with a degree in International Tourism Management and currently works as a Sales and Marketing Executive for We Are Social Nation. In July 2025, along with a business partner, she opened her own business, Opal and Mersey, a content studio based in Liverpool.
What does your job involve?
I work for We Are Social Nation, a talent management agency representing a roster of digital creators and influencers across fashion, beauty, and lifestyle.
My role involves managing influencer partnerships, which includes daily outreach to brands and businesses, creating and pitching tailored campaign proposals and picking up incoming collaboration requests. There’s a strong mix of sales, relationship management, and organisation involved, as I help connect our clients with exciting brand opportunities that align with their audiences.
A typical day for me involves outreaching and speaking with brands, catching up with clients, and overseeing content creation - making sure everything is filmed, approved, and scheduled to go live on time. I also handle contracts, invoices, and day-to-day admin, ensuring smooth communication and organisation across all campaigns.
We’ve had the pleasure of working with brands such as SHEIN, Give Me Cosmetics, Garnier, Batiste, Skin+Me, Aestura and Amazon, among others!
What three things do you like about your job?
- Working with amazing brands and creators
- Making new connections and relationships
- Facilitating campaign deals
You’ve just started your own business alongside your job, tell us about that:
My business partner and I opened Opal & Mersey, a content studio based in Liverpool, in July 2025.
We built it entirely on our own. After signing the lease for our unit in February, it took us until July to open because we were working paycheck to paycheck, buying equipment and making improvements bit by bit. Looking back, it makes me even prouder knowing we created it from nothing and quite literally by ourselves!!.
The reason I’m able to manage this alongside my full-time role is because of the way the business is structured. It runs a bit like an Airbnb: clients book their sessions online through our platform and receive all the information they need by email. Then, 24 hours before their session, they get the key-safe code. On the day, they simply let themselves in, use the space, and lock up when they leave.
I take care of cleaning the studio either in the mornings or evenings and I dedicate one day a week to managing our social media - creating content, scheduling posts for the week ahead and then of course replying to any DMs or comments during my mornings and evenings.
We started the studio to give amazing businesses, brands and creators a space to create content that really stands out - and it’s been incredible to see that come to life.
Since opening, we’ve welcomed so many incredible brands, businesses, and creators who have used our space to elevate their social presence and marketing materials. We called it Opal & Mersey because Opal represents inspiration and creativity - EXACTLY what you need to create good content! And of course, we had to include Mersey because we’re proud to be based in Liverpool.
On our Instagram you can see how the space has been used by creators.
What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability?
Make connections and get a part time job. Networking and making relationships is so important. I moved to Liverpool when I was 18 and knew no one and I feel so proud and privileged to have made some amazing connections and relationships that have ultimately helped me get to where I am now. I always had a job while I was studying because it built up my confidence and allowed me to build solid relationships and it really helps with your CV.
How has studying your specific degree subject at LJMU helped you to develop the skills, knowledge and/or experiences that will help you in your career?
My degree covered a range of topics so really helped span my knowledge across different sectors. Presenting at uni in front of other students also really helped with my confidence!
Support from the Student Futures team
If you want to talk about potential careers options with your degree, need help finding opportunities or want support with your CV, application forms or preparing for an interview, you can get advice and guidance by booking a 30-minute 1-2-1 careers meeting with a Careers and Employability Adviser from the LJMU Student Futures Team. You can also come along to a Careers drop-in or CV Café which take place weekly at the Careers Zones for quick careers queries.
If you are thinking about starting a business, freelancing, pursuing a side-hustle or have an idea that you want to explore further, email the Start-up Hub and a member of the team will be back in touch, or visit the Start-up Hub website.
For help finding part-time, temporary or casual you can fit around your studies, email the Unitemps team or visit their website.