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���Ҵ�ý (UWTSD) is proud to have welcomed back BA Business Management graduate Beth Thomas as part of the Careers Service’s Employer Talk series this May. A graduate of our Swansea campus, Beth has gone on to build a successful career in digital marketing and social media, working with major brands including Deliveroo, Birchbox and TikTok.

Now serving as Director of Social Media Operations at consultancy firm Frankly, Beth returned to share her experiences with current students, offering insight into the evolving digital landscape, reflections on her personal journey, and practical advice for launching a career in the industry.

Growing up in Merthyr Tydfil in the South Wales Valleys, Beth didn’t always see university as the obvious next step. “At school, going to university wasn’t really the norm,” she said. “I grew up watching friends and family staying in the area to work. I didn’t really realise there were so many opportunities out there, let alone that they could be mine.”

Beth shared that her time at UWTSD was ‘life-changing’: “I thought I’d go to university to get a degree, but I left with so much more than that.” Between practising her networking skills and pushing herself out of her comfort zone, she discovered a passion that ultimately shaped her career path.

Her breakthrough came through student life as much as through her lectures. As President of the Students’ Union, she ran one of her first successful campaigns using a viral Harlem Shake video, sparking her interest in how content could drive engagement and influence behaviour.

After graduating, Beth launched her own beauty blog and YouTube channel at a time when social media was still an emerging space. With few relevant roles in South Wales and unpaid internships out of reach, this self-started experience helped her land her first roles in digital marketing.

Since then, Beth has worked with some of the most recognisable consumer and tech brands. At Deliveroo, she led UK and Ireland social and influencer strategy. At TikTok, she was part of the founding Live team for Europe, helping to develop one of the platform’s fastest-growing areas.

Throughout her talk, Beth reflected on the value of creating your own opportunities, being proactive, and not waiting for permission.

Beth also shared openly about the challenges she’s faced - from imposter syndrome and fear of speaking up in meetings, to countless job rejections along the way. “Every ‘no’ gave me a better sense of who I was and what I wanted,” she said. “You just have to keep going.”

Today, alongside her role at Frankly, Beth is also a freelance content creator. With millions of views across her channels, she brings her expertise not only to global brands but directly to audiences, creating accessible, often humorous content about life, work, and modern challenges.

From a small town in the Welsh Valleys to one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, Beth inspired current UWTSD students, showing that curiosity, hard work, and a willingness to try something new can open doors, no matter where you start. 

Her message was both powerful and personal: “I didn’t know anyone in this industry when I started. I had no connections. But I worked hard, created things for myself, and built a network along the way. If I can do it, so can you.”

Further Information

Mared Anthony

Communications and PR Officer: Alumni Relations   
Corporate Communications and PR    
Email: mared.anthony@uwtsd.ac.uk    
Phone: +447482256996