Business Management student, Vineta Alksne, put herself forward to be President of Lancaster University Advertising Society after discovering “yes theory”.

Yes theory’s main idea is that taking yourself out of your comfort zone can give you your best moments in life.

For Vineta, “Yes theory means to say yes to more things.”

“I try to put myself in that mindset. If there’s an opportunity, I’d like to take that.”

Lancaster University Advertising Society is run by an executive team of eight students.

They organise regular socials and put on events and workshops that allow people to learn about the advertising industry and improve their skills.

Taking up a leadership role in a student society has been important for Vineta because she’s interested in a career in project management.

Running a society has helped her develop organisation skills project managers need.

“I feel like I’m more confident about the fact that I actually can manage people.”

The most popular events the society arranged recently were their Canva workshops.

Canva is a design tool used by creative professionals. It allows people to design graphics and create videos and animations.

Final year Advertising and Marketing student, Alex Vladimirov, facilitated the Advertising Society’s workshops.

At the two workshops, Alex set the participants a design challenge.

He showed people an example of something he created in Canva and prompted them to make a similar project of their own.

In the second of the workshops, Alex challenged the participants to create a video advert featuring a drinks can.

The creativity people showed impressed Alex. “Every single one of them had different ideas even though it was the same topic”.

Alex says some students think that societies related to a degree subject, like advertising, are boring compared to societies like sport societies.

“That’s not true.”

“You get to meet people from your field and create connections.”

“And that’s been really helpful for me because I’ve met a lot of people throughout my course and some people who are helping me get where I am.”

Alex is the Advertising Society’s graphic designer.

Creating designs for the society’s social media has led him to other opportunities.

“People have been messaging the society for tips or they need help with designing a logo.”

“I am right now working with some students who are DJs and they create events. And they want me to make posters for them.”

After graduating, Alex wants to work in digital marketing in a UK city like Manchester or Liverpool.

He credits being in advertising society with helping him build his portfolio, which will help him when he applies for jobs or looks for clients as a freelance designer.

“I keep hearing from people, oh I don’t have a lot of experience, how am I going to get a job.”

“Well, joining a society gives you knowledge and experience as well.”