Marion Lehnert

I am the main point of contact for market intelligence activities related to the aviation and offshore industries in BP's lubricant division. This includes reviewing the macro-economic environment on a global/regional scale, developing market forecasting tools and tracking competitor moves. I also provide support to pricing activities, and take part in ad hoc projects such as the strategic reviews.

I am in charge of all market research and intelligence activities of the company. This includes developing competitor, customer and market intelligence tools using primary and secondary research to support decision-making processes at both a strategic and tactical level across the business. I love it!

GMAC-RFC is the tenth mortgage lender in the UK. As an analyst in the product development team, I act as a platform between the business intelligence and the sales and marketing departments. I am in charge of purposefully managing GMAC-RFC's and competitors' data, as well as initiating market research and competitors' intelligence, in order to provide the team with critical data.

Techmark is the department of the University of Warwick Science Park which specializes in marketing and strategy consultancy to start-ups and SMEs involved in high technologies and/or industrial activities. The Science Park is based in Coventry, United Kingdom.

My main missions were to formulate marketing and strategic plans in collaboration with and based on the clients’ limited human and/or financial capabilities. Identifying commercial opportunities involved undertaking market research using primary and secondary techniques, in order to identify market trends (e.g. in the green energy or automotive industry), conduct benchmarking activities and design marketing collaterals when necessary.

Multiart is a public relations agency located in Vienna, Austria.

While working in this public relations agency, I practiced liaising with third parties when identifying and sourcing art pieces for a cultural exhibition. This mission required to quickly adjusting to the topic and the artists involved. I was also in charge of researching and putting together Internet-based reports used by the agency’s director to write proposals.

Abbey Tours is the 1st private tour operator of Ireland and is located in Dublin.

Working with the 1st private tour operator of Ireland has enabled me to experience selling Business-to-Business with a top-rated company. Liaising with French travel agencies of all sizes, my tasks were to identify and meet their exact and sometimes adventurous needs in order to put together and quote the most attractive programs. To that end, I was in direct contact with hotels, coaches, and suppliers of leisure activities.

This gap year in the US enabled me to sharpen my sense of responsibility. In addition to falling for the two children I would take care of on a daily basis, I fell completely head over heels for New York and the East Coast!