24 Questions with Elle Carney

Interviewed by Katie Hilton, Marketing Manager

Welcome to 24 Questions, FWD: Thinking’s answer to Vogue’s 73 Questions (I think that makes me Anna Wintour?)! You’re about to get an exclusive peek behind the curtain at Force24, the place where forward-thinking marketers gain momentum.

In this episode, we’re sitting down with Elle Carney, one of our talented First Line Technical Support Engineers. Elle shares her unique journey into automation, the brands and brains that inspire her, and a glimpse into the vibrant life at our Leeds HQ…

 

1. When did you start at Force24?

I began my journey with Force24 in October 2023, and I already feel right at home!

 

2. What motivated you to join Force24?

After a stint at Aldi, I realised I needed a change. I delved into coding, fell in love with it, and even completed the Northcoders bootcamp. Force24 caught my eye with its mission to streamline business operations through automation. It was the perfect blend of my newfound coding skills and a passion for making life easier for businesses.

 

3. What’s your role at Force24?

I proudly serve as a First Line Technical Support Engineer in our award-winning Customer Support team.

 

4. What’s the best aspect of working at Force24?

The camaraderie within the team is unparalleled, and every day brings new challenges and opportunities. I’ve never worked in an office before, and it has a real buzz about it. The perk of being able to bring my dog Billy into the office also puts a smile on my face, especially given his promotion to Director of Canine Services!

 

5. What’s the most challenging aspect of your role?

Juggling multiple tasks and solving diverse problems simultaneously keeps me on my toes.

 

6. If Force24 hosted a talent show, what would your talent be?

Running! I’ve recently taken up running and completed a half marathon to support Code Bar, an organisation that aided me in entering the tech industry.

 

7. What’s the most exciting development in the industry right now?

The evolution of AI in marketing automation is truly exciting. It’s revolutionising how businesses operate and engage with their audiences.

 

8. Which brand currently inspires you the most and why?

My favourite brand has to be Slack. It’s incredibly clever and brilliant for keeping organised. One of the best bits is Canvases, which are like notepads you can share with others. During a Huddle, you can jot down notes and later find them easily by clicking on the person you had the Huddle with—your notes will be right there.

Slack also lets you add custom emojis, which are a fun and effective way to react to posts in channels. You can personalise your workspace with different colours, set up reminders, and create lists for to-dos or saving links for later. Overall, Slack helps keep everything organised and is an absolute lifesaver for both personal and professional use.

 

9. Can you share a recent campaign that impressed you?

Lucy and Yak’s marketing strategy is impressive. Their approach of instilling urgency and exclusivity keeps their audience engaged and eager for more. If I wanted to devise a retargeting campaign, I’d look to them for inspiration.

 

10. What’s been the highlight of your Force24 career so far?

Mastering marketing automation and bettering my coding skills.

 

11. What product feature of Force24 do you love the most, and what makes it stand out?

The live support chat function is unmatched in the industry. I’m proud to work in a customer support team that consistently responds to people’s queries in under 2 minutes. Force24 stands out because they recognise that a business is nothing without its people.

 

12. What’s your current marketing hot take?

AI isn’t coming for our jobs; it’s here to make our lives easier, and it should be embraced.

 

13. If you could swap jobs with anyone else in the company for a day, who would it be and why?

I’d swap with Rodson, our Integrations Architect, as I’ve recently taken an interest in integrations, and they really excite me.

 

14. How do you foresee the marketing automation industry changing in the next year?

Following the Google and Yahoo updates, people will be forced to segment properly and follow industry best practice, so the inbox will become a better place to be, and marketers will start seeing better results and engagement.

 

15. What’s something interesting about Force24 that most people may not know?

We have an amazing appreciation system using 15Five to give fellow team members virtual high fives. As a person who practises gratitude daily, this is a great thing to implement into my working day so I can practise this on my colleagues and share my appreciation.

 

16. Share your ultimate Force24 tip!

Make use of the Customer Support Hub – it’s there to help you! There are so many insightful articles that really helped me when I first joined. I couldn’t think of a better place to start if you’re looking to improve your use of the platform.

 

17. When seeking inspiration for a marketing automation campaign, where do you usually turn?

I’d turn to our fantastic customer delivery team who help our customers daily with strategic work, campaign planning, and execution. Nat, who leads the team, has a deep knowledge of what does and doesn’t work and even won an award for her successes. It’s a bonus that I sit opposite her in the office!

 

18. You’re taking a client out for food in Leeds, where are you headed?

Blue Sakura! They serve Japanese-style tapas in a gorgeous restaurant, and it helps that it’s all you can eat.

 

19. What gets you out of bed in a morning?

My dog Billy, who always needs a good walk to start the day off right, as do I!

 

20. How has your role at Force24 evolved since you started?

I started on live chat before moving onto technical and integration support. I’ve developed my skills when briefing in strategic projects into the customer delivery team and have been helping clients to get their DMARC setup, so they’re prepared for the Google and Yahoo policy changes.

 

21. Can you share a particularly memorable success story or project you’ve worked on at Force24?

I recently helped to roll-out support that was aligned with the Google and Yahoo updates. Not only are our clients now prepared for the updates, but they’re also seeing their campaign engagement improve as a result. It was incredibly rewarding to see our efforts directly impacting our clients’ success and I’m glad to see the industry moving in the right direction.

 

22. What sets Force24 apart from other companies in the marketing automation sector?

Force24’s dedication to customer support and innovation truly sets us apart. We not only provide cutting-edge technology but also ensure that our clients receive unparalleled support every step of the way.

 

23. What trends do you see shaping the future of marketing automation?

Personalisation and data-driven marketing will continue to be key trends shaping the future of marketing automation. As technology advances, businesses will increasingly rely on automation to deliver tailored experiences to their customers.

 

24. How is Force24 preparing for these changes?

Force24 is constantly investing in research and development to stay ahead of the curve. We’re continually refining our platform to incorporate the latest advancements in AI, data analytics, and personalisation to ensure that our clients remain at the forefront of marketing automation innovation.

Fancy joining forces? We’ve always got our eyes peeled for new talent. Head over to our careers page to see the latest vacancies.