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THE ENGLISH SCHOOL MA GA ZINE 2020

HOW STUDYING

MODERN LANGUAGES

AT THE UNIVERSITY

OF NOTTINGHAM LED

ME TO DISNEY Daphne Philippou ESL07

MY TIME AT THE ENGLISH SCHOOL WILL ALWAYS HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY
HEART. IT WAS SUCH A HAPPY PLACE FOR ME. IT'S WHERE I MET SOME OF MY BEST
FRIENDS, WHERE I EXCITEDLY SPENT ENDLESS EVENINGS IN THE HALL REHEARSING
FOR THE TALENT NIGHT, THE CHRISTMAS CONCERT AND GREASE. I OFTEN SAY
NOTHING COMPARES TO THAT FEELING OF BEING ON THAT STAGE, AND THE BONDS
FORMED BACKSTAGE. WHEN I GRADUATED IN 2007, I WALKED AWAY FILLED WITH A
RICH COLLECTION OF EXPERIENCES, MEMORIES AND LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS. LITTLE
DID I KNOW THAT THE YEARS AHEAD WOULD BRING EVEN MORE REWARDING
ADVENTURES.

I went on to study Modern Languages (French & Spanish) with 2005 Daphne ‘Patty’
Business at The University of Nottingham. I didn’t have a future and ‘Danny’ Afxentis Afxentiou
profession in mind. In fact, I knew it was highly unlikely I would ever
choose to follow a career in teaching or linguistics, which is what
most people would typically associate a language degree with. But I
was passionate about languages and exploring different cultures,
so choosing something I genuinely loved was what mattered the
most. It wasn't just about the languages—it was also about how they
can help enhance communication skills. This proved particularly
useful for the path I'd later on choose to follow.
My degree offered me the opportunity to spend a semester at
McGill University in Montreal, as well as work in both Barcelona and
Lyon as part of my year abroad. By then, the travel bug was fully
ingrained in me, so after graduating I spent a month travelling in
South America to further cement my Spanish skills, before taking on
a Master’s in European Business at École Supérieure de Commerce
de Paris. Spending a semester in Paris and London allowed me to get activities | musical theatre
involved in consultancy projects for the likes of Chanel and General
Electric, and ultimately secure a marketing internship at Sky UK,
which developed into a permanent position.
I spent 6 amazingly fulfilling and unforgettable years at Sky, learning
and growing as a marketeer, in a working environment that felt like the
perfect fit for me, executing brand marketing campaigns for TV shows
such as Game of Thrones, and falling in love with the entertainment
industry—which is why deciding to leave felt like one of the most
difficult decisions I had to make. I’d been invited to join the marketing
distribution, promotions and publicity team at Twentieth Century Fox,
collaborating with TV clients across Europe and Africa to deliver
promotional campaigns for various TV shows and movies. This position 65
also, unintentionally, brought my language skills to the forefront, as
I travelled around organising and hosting press and screening events,
working with actors and journalists and attending the Cannes TV
congress. A highlight of my time there was accompanying Taraji P.
Henson, an Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner, to South Africa for PATTY ON GREASE 2005...Hi kids! (as my character
a press tour, to promote the latest season of the TV show she starred in. Patty would always say in utmost excitement)! Grease is definitely
Today, continuing to live in lovely London, I'm the Brand Marketing the word – it always was and always will be. I’ll never forget when
Manager at Disney+ UK, and, as those who know me will attest, it’s in one of our final dress rehearsals, half way through Summer
the absolute dream come true. Disney has always been a brand and Loving, when all of us girls were sitting on a table, swinging and
company that I wanted to work for, and as Walt Disney used to say belting out ‘tell me more’, the table collapsed and down we all
“If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this whole went, laughing uncontrollably. I’m so glad that this family is
thing was started by a mouse.”, and some days I still can’t believe growing, because we go together like rama lama lama ka dinga
that this mouse is now my boss. da dinga dong.