Rolling with the changes
Alex Doctor on a career trajectory that’s been unexpected, frequently challenging and never dull. He says every detour ultimately provided an opportunity and explains how being a born creative can sit successfully with a passion for business growth.
I’ve often joked my career trajectory is a bit like Blackadder – starting with potential for the top and working my way to the bottom. That’s not true, of course, but the road has been anything but straight.
I had a degree in film and television production design and desperately wanted to go to film school. However, it was out of reach financially, so I found my way onto productions in any way I could – offering a helping hand in return for access to classes, soaking up as much knowledge as possible.
Work was taking off, and I was gaining experience across music, sports, scripted, factual, commercials, and reality TV. I felt like I had so much potential and was just getting started. Then life threw its first big twist.
On a music video shoot in London, I met an Aussie. We quickly fell in love, and I found myself on the other side of the world. But, in Australia, work in broadcasting didn’t come easily. I did whatever I could to pay the bills – starting out as a ‘dish pig’ in hospitality before leveraging my love for cooking into a profit-share arrangement at a second restaurant. Then came another unexpected turn.
A customer mentioned he was crewing up for a TV show and, suddenly, I found myself producing a magazine show about the World F1 Powerboats for a couple of seasons. The job was exhilarating, but the constant travel took its toll. It was time for another pivot – one that would change the course of my career.
I moved into corporate production, setting up my own company and working with some of Australia’s biggest brands in tech, finance, and FMCG. Over the next 15 years, I learned relationships were at the heart of my business – clients became collaborators, and some of them are now among my oldest and closest friends.
But as much as Australia had given me, my parents were getting older, and I felt the pull to spend more time with them. I moved back to the UK, ready for another fresh start. And then, for the first time in my life, I applied for a ‘proper’ job.
A new chapter
In 2018, I had my first-ever job interview and landed a role at Simmons & Simmons. The M&BD function had just gone through a major restructuring and morale was a little shaky. I was welcomed by an incredibly generous team who gave me the space to find my feet and make an impact.
What I found was a creative function that needed an overhaul. Processes were slow. Engagement in content was lacking. No one was looking at data.
I reworked the production process and strategy behind content creation, ensuring every piece had a clear purpose. Just as I was gaining momentum, the junior member of my team left -suddenly – and I was the only creative supporting a global network. The days got longer, the nights even more so. Then came the rebrand.
Simmons & Simmons had always been a strong firm but visually it was still tied to convention. The rebrand gave us a personality – one that reflected who we really were. I flew to every office across our network, shooting our launch film and capturing corporate images of our people. Along the way, I fostered international relationships and deepened my understanding of cultural differences in each market. It was intense but it was the kind of work that made an impact.
“At one point, I thought I wasn’t living up to my potential. That I was always adjusting, always reacting, never quite arriving. But looking back, I see that every detour gave me something I never knew I needed. I wouldn’t have done it any other way.”
Building something bigger
Over time, I built up the creative team to five. What had once been a handful of creative requests a year became more than 1,000, with engagement peaking at 85%. But my focus started to shift – not just on volume and reach but on making sure the right people saw the right messages. It wasn’t just about creative output anymore – it was about corporate strategy.
Alongside an incredible team – including Ella Follis, Brendan Palmer, Gabriella Doyle, and Joana Colaco – we expanded our brand capabilities, ensuring greater accessibility and digital flexibility. We built out new digital delivery platforms for pitches, profiles, and campaigns, and we overhauled the stylistic tone and delivery of our content.
At the same time, our leadership evolved. Under Laura Klysz, we transformed from a high-turnover team to one where people could thrive. Our projects became more thoughtful, targeted, and fulfilling – not just for the business, but for us as creatives.
The next evolution
That’s when I knew my own path was shifting again.
I realised I never thought only as a creative – I was always thinking about business impact, long-term growth, and reputation building. At the beginning of last year, I took on the mini-MBA in marketing. With Laura’s guidance, I pursued a move into wider marketing strategy, focusing on how we could align our marketing and BD efforts to elevate the international reputation of the firm and drive our business plan objectives.
I’ve now been promoted to global senior marketing manager, leading our creative, digital, brand, and campaigns teams. Although I’ll be less hands-on in delivering creative work, this broader role opens so many more possibilities – unifying creativity, editorial content, and digital experiences to build a more aligned, high-achieving function that strengthens our global brand.
Reflections on an unexpected journey
Simmons and Simmons has been an unexpected twist in my journey but a defining one.
I met my partner here – we’ve since had two children. I’ve discovered a passion for helping people unlock their potential, both individually and as a firm. I’ve found that in business development and brand building, the most powerful thing we can do is connect the dots between creative, strategy, and business needs – by being trusted advisors and uncovering the “why” behind the want.
One thing at Simmons has always stood out: the culture – warm, collaborative, and inclusive. It’s upended my expectations of this role being just a seat warmer in my career journey.
At one point, I thought I wasn’t living up to my potential. That I was always adjusting, always reacting, never quite arriving. But looking back, I see that every detour gave me something I never knew I needed. I wouldn’t have done it any other way.