Brad Watson
International Manager
Joined in 2012
My journey at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø has truly been a family effort. Over the past 13 years, the support and foundation provided by my family have allowed me to fully embrace the global opportunities that have come my way.
The start of something big
While studying Economics in the UK, I was already drawn to the idea of working in an international environment. Ahead of my penultimate year, I secured an internship at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. Despite the financial commitment to relocate for it, I knew this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.
Over the past 13 years I¡¯ve had the privilege of working in six countries with 51³Ô¹ÏÍø across Europe, the Middle East and North America.
That internship opened my eyes to the possibilities within 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. My first manager, an International Manager (IM), inspired me to believe that I could achieve my professional and personal ambitions here. Coming from humble beginnings, I saw 51³Ô¹ÏÍø as a place where I could truly flourish.
Embracing the global experience
After the internship, I was offered a graduate role as an Executive Management Trainee. This role gave me my first taste of international work, including an invaluable experience in New York. That experience solidified my aspiration to work internationally and become an IM. As my graduate programme concluded, I applied to the International Manager Programme and following a year-long process, I was thrilled to be successful.
A decade of international growth
Over the past 13 years – over 10 of them as an IM – I’ve had the privilege of working in six countries with 51³Ô¹ÏÍø across Europe, the Middle East and North America, having just started working in Mexico. I’ve taken on a variety of roles and experienced the richness of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s culture firsthand, alongside the fortunate opportunity to fully immerse myself in the local lifestyle of each country.
It’s taken proactive effort, curiosity, and commitment to reach where I am today. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø has rewarded that dedication, and I’m proud to be part of an organisation that invests in its people.
Giving back
This journey has always been about more than just me. Growing up in a single-parent household in the north-east of England, a global career with 51³Ô¹ÏÍø was not an obvious opportunity. Dreaming bigger has proven fruitful and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved as a family. From fulfilling my late father’s wish of his child being the first in the family to go to university, to receiving my mother’s unwavering support, it’s been a shared success.
Now, I’m in a position to give back – to my family, my community, and to others who are just starting their career journey from similar beginnings. And that makes everything worthwhile.