What does a Brand Manager at Marriott actually do?

In this episode of How To Become A…, Grace sits down with Kel to unpack what it really means to shape, launch and scale hotel brands across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

From moving countries as a teenager, to working front-of-house in a five-star London hotel, to landing a graduate role at Marriott, Kel’s journey proves that brand leadership isn’t about advertising alone. It’s about building the full guest experience.

Kel shares:

• Why he originally wanted to work in social services
• Moving to the UK at 15 and navigating cultural change
• Studying Business & Hospitality at university
• Why working in hotel operations was essential
• The importance of emotional intelligence in hospitality
• How he discovered brand management through a VP coffee chat
• Completing a Master’s in Advertising & Marketing
• Landing Marriott’s graduate programme
• Navigating redundancy during COVID
• Rebuilding her career internationally
• Moving back to London for a second chance
• Launching new hotel brands across EMEA
• What brand management actually means (and how it differs from marketing)

She also opens up about:

• Cultural differences between working in Asia and Europe
• The hierarchy of hotel operations
• Influencing stakeholders in corporate environments
• Balancing ambition and personal life
• Taking leaps of faith in your career

If you’re interested in:

• Hospitality careers
• Working for Marriott
• Brand management roles
• Corporate marketing
• International careers
• Travel and tourism jobs

This episode is for you.

🎙 How To Become A... explores real-life journeys behind the careers of everyday people. Each episode dives into the path of someone who's built success outside of the spotlight — no fame, no fortune, just real stories. Discover how they started, the challenges they faced, and what drives them forward. 💼✨

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