Are you wondering what a career with Betfair looks like? We managed to pin down Mike Woodbridge, Head of Commercial Planning to get the inside scoop on his exceptional career with Betfair.
Take us back to the beginning…where did you start and how did you get here?
I started off in Betfair's Commercial Graduate Scheme and then after 9 months I moved into a Commercial Analyst position. After that, I climbed from Product Manager, to Commercial Manager to Senior Commercial Manager in the sports division, before taking a role in strategy and planning and finally progressing to the role of Head of Commercial Planning.
What’s the hardest part of your role?
Part of my role is to tackle very big questions in the business – specifically around setting up the commercial strategy to reach established corporate goals.
What advice would you give someone who’s looking to work for Betfair?
You must have the ability to influence at a higher level. The company culture is based around a fairly flat hierarchy structure so you’ll be working with very senior people from day one and will need to be able to put your ideas across clearly and with impact. You have to be impressive.
The work here is so interesting and it’s important to step back and actually enjoy what you do. Work is play!
What do you wish you would have known when starting out…
I wish I’d appreciated the importance of confidence sooner. It’s absolutely critical to speak up! At Betfair there is always room for improvement but if you want to add value, confidence is important.
Can you tell us what you love most about your job?
The culture – there is always an opportunity to grow and change, the dynamic of the team is great. I love the flat hierarchy and the fact that the office is open plan. There is a real sense of community.