One Year Later | Part 1

Designed to provide immersive, hands-on, real-time professional development, GPJ’s Ignite apprenticeship program is our way of investing in the future of experiential by building the future generation of leaders. As we welcome in the next class of Igniters, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on the experiences of Igniters of years past who have transitioned into full-time roles with GPJ. Their journeys not only highlight the strength of the program but also demonstrate the lasting impact Ignite has on shaping confident, capable talent across our organization.

How did you find GPJ, and what was your experience like with Ignite?

I learned about GPJ/Ignite through family friends. My experience with Ignite was both fun and impactful. It offered real, hands-on agency experience rather than just observation. I supported the Integrated Production department as well as the New Brand Development team, which gave me a well-rounded view of GPJ/experiential marketing.

Reflecting on your first full year with GPJ in the Graphics Management department, is there anything you took away from your Ignite experience that has helped you in your role now?

This past year has taught me how important communication, organization, and adaptability are in experiential work. No two projects are the same, and things change fast. Ignite helped prepare me for that by teaching me how to ask the right questions, stay calm under pressure, and understand how various roles fit into the larger ecosystem of an event. That foundation has been huge in my own growth this past year.

Thank you for your time, Raphael. We’re lucky to have you on the team and look forward to seeing what’s in store for you and your career!

How did you find GPJ? What was your experience with Ignite like?

I actually discovered GPJ and the Ignite program through Google while I was searching for new career opportunities. During my time in Ignite, I supported the Event Services (IBM) department. My experience was fantastic, the atmosphere was always positive, and I felt that everyone was incredibly considerate, supportive, and helpful from day one.

We’re happy to hear it was a great experience, and congratulations on securing your position with GPJ! What was the transition to full-time like, Chiara?

The transition felt very natural and rewarding. And yes, I stayed within the same department! It feels great to be a permanent part of the team now. I am genuinely happy to be at GPJ and to continue my journey with the colleagues I’ve grown so close to.

Reflecting on your first year in your full-time position with GPJ, was there anything you took away from your Ignite experience that has helped you in your role now?

The most important lesson I’ve learned is to always be prepared and to have a Plan B. It’s all about maintaining foresight. I’ve also learned the importance of staying calm under pressure and leveraging the vast network within the company. Even now, I frequently reach out to my colleagues whenever I have a question; the collaborative spirit I experienced during Ignite is something I still rely on every day.

Leaning into that collaborative spirit, what advice would you give to someone who’s considering the Ignite program?

My advice is: definitely go for it! It has been an amazing experience. What I appreciated most was that I was given real responsibility and trust right from the start, but without feeling overwhelmed by pressure, which is so important when you’re just starting your professional career. I enjoyed every moment, and I’m very proud of the path I’ve taken so far.

Let’s end with a fun one; describe agency life in one meme.

I couldn’t decide on whether:

Thank you for your time today, Chiara. We’re lucky to have you on the team and look forward to seeing what’s in store for you and your career!

A chef gone experiential—amazing! What led you to Ignite with GPJ, and how was your experience?

I found an Ignite position in the Operations department on LinkedIn. GPJ’s Ignite programme was a great opportunity for me to understand how the experiential world works and why it’s such a powerful form of marketing. Working in Ops gives you a holistic view, you see projects from start to finish and understand the finite detail required to execute events. London’s T&C department had regular check-ins with us to ensure we were being looked after within our departments. Also, this enabled us to build a relationship with other Igniters: it was really beneficial to have peers in other departments who I could compare notes with.   

Congratulations on your full-time position with GPJ, Sophie! What was the transition like from Ignite to full-time?

While on the Ignite programme, I had a trial period in the Strategy & Marketing departments, which meant I was able to gain insight into how these two departments worked. I was then offered a full-time position as Strategy & Marketing coordinator, as it was clear that this style of thinking better suited my skillset. The transition was fairly smooth, but it did feel like a slightly new job as I moved floors in the office. In true GPJ style, everyone was welcoming and supportive.

Be open: try everything and anything. You don’t know what something truly involves until you have tried it. 

Last but certainly not least—do you have any fun onsite stories to share?

I was asked to get out €500 in Amsterdam but it all had to be in €10 notes. No bank would help me as I didn’t have a Dutch bank account so I ended up going to a casino at 10am on a Wednesday morning to exchange the cash.

Thank you for your time today, Sophie. We’re lucky to have you on the team and look forward to what’s in store for your career!

me experience that I am more thankful for every day. Just like I am doing now, I was supporting the Graphic Production Team in TN before being fully hired the following year. 

Congratulations on your full-time position, Gramm! What was that transition like, going from Ignite to a full-time team member?

I stayed in the same department, so the transition was pretty easy. Graphic Production is a hands-on department with fabrication, so the transition to FTE wasn’t all that different from my initial experience. No hybrid schedules for me either way. The main difference? I know more, I’m more confident in my position, and I have conversations and relationships with many more people in and out of the department than I would have if I had simply been hired on instead of joining the Ignite program. I also have more consideration for the different skill sets of the variety of departments here at GPJ—I know what IP is searching for, I know why the budgets are important, and I know what it takes to go from concept to final product. I’m more impressed with the constant variety GPJ brings to the table after being an Igniter than I might have been if I didn’t have the experience.

It sounds like Ignite was a fruitful experience for you! We’re glad it served you and your professional career. You’re one year into being full-time with GPJ—what has the past year taught you? What did you take away from your Ignite experience that has helped you in your role now?

I understand more of the ins-and-outs of the GPJ company experience. I root for the creative teams and encourage them to learn about production, as I encourage myself to see what it takes to pitch the next big adventure. I may be checking PPIs, Dimensions, and Engineering Drawings, but I also know what it takes to make those pieces fall into place with my department. I encourage new hires to do the same, and to ask questions that you normally wouldn’t ask if all you needed to do was make sure something printed right. 

That collaboration and curiosity between departments is vital to creating world-class experiences. Do you have any advice to give for those considering the Ignite program?

Talk to people. Ask big questions. Don’t be afraid to try something new. Experiential marketing is a unique avenue for our clients and idea-makers to tackle, but it makes for a much more engaging, nuanced, and big-picture perspective than your typical strategies. It’s awe-inspiring, especially for those who are just beginning to dip their toes in the field. GPJ feels like a team attempting to always build the next big dream for our clients, and it’s awesome to be a part of that.

Exceptional advice. Let’s wrap up with a fun one—what is your go-to song or playlist when you need to focus or meet a deadline?

I have a playlist on Spotify titled “Dubstep Made Classy” filled with EDM that never fails to put me in a flow state 🙂

Thank you for your time today, Gramm. We’re lucky to have you on the team and look forward to what’s in store for your career! Want to read more experiences like these? Look out for our next One Year Later post here.