"Pick an area that's either a hobby of yours or something you invest in yourself day-to-day, be that time or money," says Nat Cooper, freelance start-up consultant. "That's what's always worked for me. Thinking about products I really like, reaching out and seeing what the opportunity is."
And it is an approach that has worked wonders for Nat.
Her career has seen her work with a number of different start-ups within the food and drink industry, and for the past few years she has been able to go it alone as a...
"Pick an area that's either a hobby of yours or something you invest in yourself day-to-day, be that time or money," says Nat Cooper, freelance start-up consultant. "That's what's always worked for me. Thinking about products I really like, reaching out and seeing what the opportunity is."
And it is an approach that has worked wonders for Nat.
Her career has seen her work with a number of different start-ups within the food and drink industry, and for the past few years she has been able to go it alone as a consultant.
She also does regular work as Head of OOH at the crisp-making company Simply Roasted.
But, as we often find on the Career Conversations podcast series, her career path looked like it would go in a very different direction when she first started out.
Find out more about the up-coming Food Matters Live careers event series
"I was really interested in the property sector and ended up doing real estate management at university," she says. "I ended up trying to explore a couple of other industries and stumbled across a position at a food and drink brand."
That brand was Vita Coco and Nat says she loved working there: "Like most entry level roles, you end up getting into anything and everything to do with the business."
One highlight saw her representing the company at London Fashion Week: "I could get into quite a lot of VIP areas. I felt very cool and important at the grand old age of 23!"
Despite enjoying her time at Vita Coco, she decided she needed a break from London life, wanted to learn to surf, and to do more yoga. So she booked a one-way flight to Morocco.
Nat still managed to find relevant work out there and after six months she returned to the UK having already lined up a new role at a start-up coffee company.
Listen to the full episode to find out how and why Nat moved from being employed to being a consultant, what the OOH stands for in her job title, and why she describes Simply Roasted as "more than just a client".
30% Discount at Simply Roasted
Nat and the team at Simply Roasted have very kindly given Food Matters Live podcast listeners a 30% discount on all products bought through their website.
Just visit the Simply Roasted site, fill up your basket, and enter the discount code below when prompted.
Happy eating!
Discount Code: FML30%
Nat Cooper, Startup Consultant and Head of OOH, Simply Roasted
After 10 years of sales and marketing roles within fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and working for the likes of Vita Coco, Doisy & Dam, and Modern Standard Coffee, Nat is now Head of OOH for Simply Roasted crisps as well as mentoring founder-led businesses.
Nat is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable sales professional and offers valuable insight into the often-intimidating world of sales and account management.
Nat is a passionate foodie and conscious consumer, with a particular interest in start-ups and challenger brands.
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