Adam Butler
Current Employer/Organisation Name
Netflix Inc.
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
I graduated in 2009 with a degree in politics. Since that time, I have worked in the media and marketing / advertising world, primarily in the realms of measurement analytics and business development. I worked and lived in London from 2011 until 2018, before moving to New York to take up a new position in January 2018. I’ve been based in New York ever since.
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
I enjoy building things, working in a fast-paced industry where I can see my work make an immediate impact and I can learn. I get bored easily and I like that my industry is constantly innovating and gives me many opportunities to continue to grow.
What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?
I loved Professor Stephen Wilks’ module on Business and Politics. Studying during the height of the great recession was, not necessarily a highlight (not least because it was hard to get a job straight after graduation) but an interesting time to be learning and studying.
What did you most enjoy about studying here?
Exeter is a beautiful campus and city. I made friends for life during my time there.
Why did you choose to study at Exeter?
It had a strong academic profile, but I think the real reason was the feeling I got after attending an open day. I went to a few places but the vibe I got at Exeter clicked with me for some reason, so that was why I chose it.
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
Critical thinking and the ability to reason I’d say are the fundamental building blocks. If you have this, you can approach any problem rationally. From a practical perspective, I took a few online course to teach myself the basics of coding, internet networking and SQL. Having a basic grasp of these things have unlocked so much opportunity for me.
What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?
Remain curious – understand the basics of technology and how the internet works, and keep an open mind. Also never don’t apply for a role if you don’t hit every single criteria in the job description because you never know!
