We asked Portsmouth graduate, Vicky Smith, to tell us why she chooses to give back and how Portsmouth has helped her career journey
Volunteers’ Week is a national event that takes place from 1–7 June every year. It’s an opportunity for organisations, like the University, to showcase our fantastic community of alumni, students and staff volunteers.
Among these inspirational volunteers is BSc (Hons) Music and Sound Technology 2016 graduate Vicky Smith. Now a Senior Production Manager at Sony Music, Vicky has given many hours of her time volunteering at the University. We asked Vicky to tell us why she chooses to give back and how Portsmouth has helped her career journey:
Where do you currently work?
I’m currently a Senior Production Manager at Sony Music, and I work within the creative arm of the company: 4th Floor Creative. I produce video content for our artists which ranges from live concert films, TV shows, music videos, lyric videos, live sessions, and much more. I help lead the video production team in developing new video content pitches and ideas for the artists. Our content is shown worldwide and helps drive our artists careers.
Did studying at the university help your career?
Having studied music at Portsmouth, it cemented my love for the industry and encouraged me to work towards my goal of working within the industry. My course also helped me gain the skills for my first job, which was in events, and in turn gave me the skills to make the switch to video production. Doing a predominantly coursework-led course also helped develop my organisational skills, which is a huge part of my job now.
Being a student at Portsmouth also introduced me to many people who have helped me an incredible amount since I graduated. A lot of these people have had a direct impact on decisions I’ve made in my career.
What do you do as a volunteer?
As an alumna, I have helped volunteer at open days for potential new students explaining why I loved Portsmouth, why I loved the course, and why I couldn’t recommend it enough. I have also volunteered on calls with soon-to-be graduates to help them figure out their steps post-graduation and answer any questions about the world of work, which is really rewarding; I remember the fear when graduating and being unsure of what to do next.
Having someone explain what they did after graduating, and sometimes just hearing they’re not alone in their worries, can be comforting.
Why did you choose volunteering?
I volunteer because to me it’s really important to share real experiences of university life with people. Being a student at Portsmouth helped mould me into the person I am today and has had a direct impact in my career, so sharing my real feelings with prospective students gives them a true insight into what they could also achieve at Portsmouth.