Alastair Banks: Founder and Director at Optix Solutions & Your Digital Future

"Resilience is key to long-term success; every challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow. There is no such thing as failure, only feedback."

Current job title and employer:

Founder and Director at Optix Solutions (Strategic Digital Marketing Agency) & Your Digital Future (Recruitment in the Marketing and Tech Space). I also run an online membership site for Marketing Leaders – https://www.marketingleaders.community

Brief description of your path after Brentwood:

After graduating from Brentwood, I pursued higher education at Exeter University, where I co-founded Optix Solutions in 1999 while in my second year of study. Over the past 24 years, Optix has grown into a well-respected strategic and creative marketing agency. Alongside, I founded Your Digital Future, focusing on assessment, recruitment, and training in the digital, marketing, and tech sectors. My career has been deeply intertwined with digital marketing innovations and leadership in this space.

How has your career path led you to where you are now?

I have never actually worked for anyone. Never had a boss. Which makes my story relatively unique. My career has been a blend of entrepreneurship, constant learning, and adapting to the digital landscape's evolution. Starting Optix Solutions at university and nurturing it into a significant agency taught me resilience and strategic thinking. The establishment of Your Digital Future allowed me to leverage my expertise to impact the recruitment and training space. These ventures have positioned me as a thought leader, speaking at global conferences and prestigious universities across the world. My online community seeks to keep Marketing Managers and Directors up to speed with the ever-changing world of digital. I become their trusted advisor, always horizon scanning so they don’t have to.

Did you develop any particular skills or attributes at Brentwood that have helped your career?

Brentwood instilled in me a strong work ethic and the importance of connection building and communication skills. The environment encouraged curiosity and the pursuit of excellence, which motivated me to innovate and excel in the digital marketing field.

Favourite Brentwood memory?

I have many and have also remained good friends with a lot of my year group. One of my favourite memories is sitting out on the field by the first XI pitch, in the summer with friends, pre and post exams, soaking up the sun. Shirts sleeve order if I remember that correctly?

Any words of advice for those graduating this year?

Embrace change and be adaptable; the world is evolving rapidly, especially in technology and digital spheres. Continuous learning and staying updated with industry trends are crucial. Build your network and nurture relationships, as they can open doors to unforeseen opportunities. Lastly, remember that resilience is key to long-term success; every challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow. There is no such thing as failure, only feedback.