Adrian Crighton benefited from quite an unusual start to his university life. Initially, while he was in his senior year at secondary school in the Scottish Borders, he took part in QMU’s pioneering Academies project. His time with QMU’s Creative Industries Academy meant that he was in a highly unique position of being able to learn at school, college and university all at the same time. His involvement with the Creative Industries Academy gave him a great practical and academic insight into different subjects and various careers options, and he realised he had a real interest in and aptitude for PR and marketing.
In what seemed like a natural progression, Adrian went on to secure a place on QMU’s BA (Hons) Public Relations, Marketing and Events. He immediately threw himself into university life – taking full advantage of all of the fantastic opportunities that QMU presented to him. During his time as a student, Adrian built an impressively diverse CV by getting involved in many different projects out with his course, and maximising every opportunity to develop his communication, PR and organisational skills.
His go-getting attitude and thirst for success, ultimately led him down an incredibly exciting career path, which has resulted in his almost meteoric rise up the ranks at multinational bank holding company, American Express. Now, Adrian has been promoted to the Director & Chief of Staff role in the Global Strategy & Enablement department at American Express. He is also the chair of the UK’s Pride Network and is now returning to QMU to help support student development, by volunteering as a mentor with the University’s Rotational Leadership Mentoring Programme.
Below, Adrian shares his transformational journey from school in the Scottish Borders to a leadership role with a global brand.
Why did you choose to study BA (Hons) PR, Marketing and Events at QMU?
During high school I didn’t know what I wanted to do later in life, or what I wanted to do at university. So just when I was about to pick my Higher courses at school, we were told about QMU’s Creative Industries Academy - an education programme run by the University.
One aspect of the Academy that particularly grabbed my interest was the fact that you would study media and communication two days a week over two years at college and university, whilst still studying at school, and come out the other side with an HNC. What really drew me in was that, whilst you did learn theory and wrote essays, there was so much opportunity for practical exercises - photography, filming, designing magazines and even just how to use Photoshop.
It felt to me that this was a course genuinely focused on teaching you skills, not just trying to cram information into you for the sole purpose of getting you through an exam, so that you could sit more exams! So, I signed up and, through the course, I attended international conferences, made industry contacts and most importantly discovered that I had a particular knack for public relations. Since I had loved my time at the University so much (via the Academies project), once I’d achieved my HNC, I knew I wanted to become a full-time student at QMU on the BA (Hons) Public Relations, Marketing and Events.
My favourite element of the BA (Hons) Public Relations, Marketing and Events course was how hands-on it was, as well as the practical skills that we picked up. For example, we learned how to actually write a press release and take a half decent photograph to go with it. Beyond the practical skills, the most important trait I picked up was curiosity - at high school there was a very rigid curriculum, but at university, we were encouraged to pursue what we were most passionate about and for me, at the time, it was how communications can inform and impact relationship building, hence why public relations felt like a great fit.
What did you most enjoy about your course?
There were so many aspects, but particularly how the lecturers just went above and beyond to make the material relevant and transferable to a professional setting. A highlight was the Crisis Communications module where a portion of the final grade was a role play exercise where pseudo journalists questioned you as part of a press briefing. Although challenging at the time, this was something I had to do multiple times in a similar format when I was applying for graduate schemes.
Beyond the learning, it was also the incredible friends I made along the way. I have recently returned from my friend Jess’s wedding in Germany who I met in my first year (crazily, that was 8 years ago now)! I now have friends from all over Europe whose friendships I cherish and will definitely be my friends for life.
Can you tell us about all the opportunities you made the most of during your time at QMU?
Diving in was one of my mantras during university and there was always something to get involved in, for example helping out at the Open Days. I loved meeting new students and giving them an honest perspective of what life at the University was like. I also was one of the founding members of the University’s Marketing Society, which was created in collaboration with the Marketing Society of Scotland. We held great events, such as an expert talk (and beer tasting) at the Innis and Gunn brewery, or the hosting of a marketing panel with senior execs from the Scottish Government and owners of advertising agencies. (Find out more -
A particular highlight was that a month into the course, I got an email asking to volunteer at the CIPR awards, which is a black-tie event celebrating great PR campaigns – this was a great experience for me.
QMU offered lots of opportunities to gain hands on practical experience and apply your academic knowledge to real life projects. I jumped at the chance to work for the University’s STARS programme (Student Tourism Ambassador Role Scotland). This was an innovative programme set up to connect QMU students with some of the largest tourism sites across Edinburgh by giving students vital work experience in customer-focused positions. For over six months, I worked outside the St James Shopping Centre (now known as the St James Quarter) in Edinburgh while it was under construction. The old building had been demolished and the new site was being transformed, which meant there was a lot of disruption for the general public. As part of the STARS programme, I worked in a customer services/public liaison role which involved us assisting Edinburgh residents, workers and particularly tourists to navigate and make the most of that area of Edinburgh. STARS was perfect for me as it allowed me to draw on my academic studies and blend it with practical communication and organisational skills. It also helped me gain experience in a role which was more challenging and useful than your average part-time job.
I was then given the incredible opportunity, by my two QMU mentors, to be the coordinator of the programme. It was daunting at the time as we had over 40 ambassadors spanning four locations (Edinburgh Airport, Waverley Train Station, St James Centre and The Edinburgh Military Tattoo). This experience taught me vital leadership, communication and critical thinking skills which would have been hard to come by through any other job. The lessons that I learned from there still hold true now.
"More generally, I made sure to take advantage of all that was on offer to me from an academic point of view. For example, positioned in the library, there’s a dedicated (and very friendly) team of staff in the Assisted Learning Unit that will help you with essay writing. In Student Services, the team will tailor a disability package for you and your individual needs. I was speaking to one of my friends (who goes to a large university) back home about how I met my lecturer for coffee, and she looked surprised. Naturally I asked her why, and she said that none of her lecturers knew her name… "
I found that at QMU, opportunity is right in front of you, ready for the taking, and it’s up to you to grasp it.
Tell us what you did in the first year or so following graduation?
I graduated in 2020 which was a tumultuous time for graduates, as we were in the throws of the Covid pandemic. I had applied for many schemes and was fortunate enough to receive a few offers, but across the board, companies were rescinding places and slowing down graduate recruitment. I was fortunate to secure a place on the Customer Service and Business Strategy Graduate Scheme at American Express. Despite the pandemic, I moved down to Brighton to work in their international headquarters.
The Graduate Scheme consisted of four rotations over two years, and I was fortunate to work across Capabilities Product Management, Global Partner Management, Fraud Operations and Customer Service Delivery.
Tell us about your career progression over the years?
After leaving the Graduate Scheme, I secured a permanent position as Strategy & Business Planning Manager at the company, which involved managing the executive office of an Executive Vice President within the operations world - overseeing the running of the office and leading on strategic initiatives that impacted our 12K colleague base across 20 markets. I was in this position for two years before being promoted to the Director & Chief of Staff within a team called Global Strategy & Enablement.
Now, my day to day can look like anything from budget discussions with finance partners, working on our strategic priorities and how we’re tracking against them, to planning a staff meeting in one of our markets. The thing I love most about my role is the variety. It’s a privilege to be able to meet and work with such a talented and diverse group of people.
I’m also the chair of the Pride Network within the UK - championing diversity in business is something I’m hugely passionate about, in large part due to having a lack of role models when I was younger and wanting to be that person for the next generation - I wear a pin to work every day that reads ‘Be Proud, Be Visible’.
I have now also been asked back to QMU to be a mentor in the new Rotational Leadership Mentoring Programme, and I’m delighted to be able to help the future workforce achieve their aspirations and encourage them to make the most out of their time as a student.
What has been the most valuable lesson that you learned at university?
Saying yes. This sounds simple but you would be shocked at the amount of time people do not take advantage of an opportunity as they don’t think they’re up to it. The Academies project, mentoring, STARS, internships - all of these outcomes which had a profound impact on me had snowballed from one to another, and if you want to truly get the most out of your university experience then this is a sure-fire way to do it. If you’re ever doubting yourself, ask ‘why not me’?
"Funnily enough, I was talking to my Mum recently about how QMU was the catalyst behind pretty much all of the success in my adult life. I certainly wouldn’t have stood out as much in the Graduate Scheme programme processes had I not benefited from the wide range of opportunities that QMU presented to me. "
When I was deciding whether or not to stay on at QMU to do the BA (Hons), I asked around to see what other students were experiencing in terms of support from their lecturers at their various colleges and universities, and found out that many lecturers didn’t even know who they were. At QMU, I felt supported and known as an individual, and that was reflected in the amount I was able to grow and develop over my time there. The incredible teaching staff were instrumental in setting me up for success.
Find out more about our Film, Communication and Creative Industries courses.
