Young Pros Spotlight

Lura Anyanwu, Age 30

Senior Program Manager – Marketing Analytics / CDW

When did you join ARF Young Pros? 2015

1. What is your proudest professional accomplishment?
My proudest professional accomplishment thus far was completing grad school while working. Being able to maintain my performance at work while in school started off as a daunting task but looking back it proved to me that I can do anything if I manage my time well and stop doubting myself.

2. What is your biggest professional challenge?
Before I was in marketing analytics, I was on the account side of the business. When I discovered analytics, I knew that was the direction I wanted to take my career. However, switching to analytics meant that I needed to essentially start over; going from an account supervisor to entry level analyst. This was not only a professional challenge but also a challenge for my ego. I (obviously) decided to make the career shift and it was the best decision I could have made.

3. How has being an ARF YP member impacted your career?
My network has expanded greatly from being an ARF YP member. I joined when I was still new to the analytics practice and it was so nice to connect with other young professionals outside of work. Beyond the network, I have learned so many things that I have been able to use at work right away. For example, while at FCB, I was put in their internal retail practice right around the time I attended the YP Boot Camp. There was a retail analytics speaker who had an interactive presentation and that was a great introduction to the practice area. I would have only had that experience by being an ARF YP member.

4. What’s your favorite event that you’ve been to?
The boot camps are always my favorite; they are very valuable and fun. Whether speakers discuss career advice or lead a technical training, I always come away with knowing something new. Also, it is a great way to get out of the office for half a day!

5. When researching a topic you know nothing about, how do you get started?
I find Nielsen or other research firms to be very helpful when I want to learn about an unfamiliar topic. They do a great job to diving deep into various categories and it’s an easy way to get grounded in a topic. From there, I can do additional research using our internal tools to add in the data story around a topic.

6. What is your favorite restaurant in your city?
It’s my favorite as of yesterday (Valentine’s Day) but Virtue in Hyde Park

7. What is your favorite show/program?
I have an affinity of terribly trashy shows like Love Island and Real Housewives (not all the cities, just Atlanta, Beverly Hills, Potomac and New York)

8. What’s your dream job? (If money was no object, what would you do?)
Being a data-driven CMO at a beauty company. I honestly think the next generation of high level executives will have an analytics background.

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