Rachel McKee

Assistant Brand Manager for Jameson, Redbreast & The Deacon, Malaysia


Spending her time on the programme in the tropical heat of Kuala Lumpur, Rachel embarked on a journey sweeping the country to take on exciting projects as a Jameson Brand Ambassador in this emerging market. Taking her experience and knowledge to the next level, Rachel then secured a position as Assistant Brand Manager for Jameson to continue to drive the brand forward within the marketing team in Pernod Ricard Malaysia.

When did you decide that you wanted to take part in the Jameson International Brand Ambassador Programme?

 

After graduating from college a few years, I really wanted to find a career path I could be passionate about. I started doing a bit of research and I came across the Jameson International Brand Ambassador Programme. I quickly started following Brand Ambassadors on their social channels such as Instagram to get an insight into what the job was like. I instantly knew, I had found the job I was searching for, and began to put in place my plan to apply for the programme.

What market were you based in?

 For the duration of my time on the programme I was in the hot & humid Malaysia!

Was there ever a language barrier while on the programme?

 No, to my surprise I never came across any language barrier working as a Jameson Brand Ambassador in Malaysia. Everyone here speaks & writes in English in their job so I found integrating into the market from a language perspective easy.

What was the most rewarding thing about being part of the Jameson International Brand Ambassador Programme?

 

For sure the most rewarding thing is seeing how much I have grown both professionally & personally from the start of the programme to today. I feel the experience I gained will equip me not only for my next career move, but for life! I was handling all kinds of situations, like working with different departments; managing key projects and building relationships with stakeholders to build the Jameson brand, all while having plenty of fun along the way of course! I am a completely different person now to what I was when I started the programme and really thank the programme for that development.

What was your most difficult obstacle to resolve while on the Jameson International Brand Ambassador Programme?

I have to admit that being super organized isn’t something that comes naturally to me! Managing time, prioritizing tasks and reaching deadlines are all skills I had to start practicing when getting to market. As a Brand Ambassador you need to keep on top of all your responsibilities and relationships.

To give an example, while on the programme I ran a number of events but one stands out. The event was a cocktail event for approximately 250 people and I had forgotten to order any ice… Resulting in frantically running to the nearest supermarket in 35 degrees heat and racing back with bags of melting ice. In the end all went well and the event was a success. From then on my motto became ‘fail to plan, plan to fail’.

What weaknesses did you improve on while on the programme?

 

Working with people from all over the world and with all sorts of characters, your people management skills develop so well while on the programme. It’s easy to make friends as a Jameson Brand Ambassador, but when you really need tasks completed, that’s when your people management skills kick into action. Positively motivating and making sure we have plenty of fun along way is the Jameson style of getting the job done.

What skills did you learn while on the programme that you feel have been transferable to your current position?

If I had to pick my top 3 they would have to be 1. Business Acumen 2. Time management 3. Efficient Communication.

As a Jameson Brand Ambassador you really are the eyes and ears for the brand, with a finger on the pulse at all times – you never miss a beat. This makes you a key asset to the business and equips you with commercial & business knowledge from the outside in. My time management has improved through the many different areas of responsibility and projects I worked on as a Jameson Brand Ambassador, from whiskey tastings to developing bartender advocacy, you have a lot on your plate, so time management is extremely important.

What is your favorite memory from your time on the programme?

My favorite memory from my time as a Jameson Brand Ambassador has to be the Jameson ‘Welcome To The Jungle’ event we did for Jameson Malaysia St. Patrick’s Day. It was a large-scale event for 2000 people which I helped my local Brand Manager to execute and deliver. It was one of the most incredible Jameson events I’ve worked on. From start to finish I was helping to manage the event from artist selection to creative look and feel and drinks strategy. It was awesome.

Any tips for someone considering applying for the programme?

 

For me, the 3 golden rules of applying for the programme are:

 

  1. Show off your business knowledge

Have you got a creative side hustle? Do you run a social media page for a college society? Show off your passion and drive for sales and marketing, you are applying to be part of the team building the world’s No.1 Irish Whiskey brand – show them you’ve got what it takes!

 

  1. Show case your relationship building skills

Are you a great public speaker? Do you make friends easily?

You will be meeting people from all over the world, showcase your relationship building skills and have a bit of fun along the way!

 

  1. Be yourself!

Show the team your own unique style of doing things, you are the star of the show!

 

And for future Brand Ambassadors all I can say is… Enjoy it! Make sure, not only you gain valuable professional experience, but also enjoy and explore the country or city you’re in, even if it’s not far from home. You will meet so many interesting and amazing people on your journey. Take the opportunity to explore, try new things, meet new people, you don’t know where it might take you!