Introduced by Tara Morrison, Senior Teaching Fellow in Business Education, Ross began by sharing his journey at the University of Edinburgh, where the opportunity for international exchange drew him to study in Alberta, Canada.
He stressed the transformative impact of studying abroad, encouraging students to embrace opportunities to build confidence and broaden their perspectives.
Early in his degree, Ross found himself more drawn to marketing courses and thinking about ‘messy’ human behaviour, over economic theories. His job search post-graduation focused on FMCG, and eventually took him to Cadbury, where he felt a strong affinity to the brand, their values and their story.
After their takeover by Kraft, he reassessed his goals and moved on to Diageo, until he received an offer he couldn’t refuse, to join a newly formed agency, 101.
At 101, Ross had the opportunity to work on diverse projects ranging from Mr Kipling to Zoopla. This period highlighted the value of variety and creativity in his career, and he particularly appreciated the opportunity to work with Scottish Widows, a business very familiar to him as an Edinburgh native.
A move to Little Moons
Ross’s current role at Little Moons encompasses marketing, sustainability and innovation. Little Moons is a frozen and chilled snacking business, makers of mochi ice cream, cheesecake and chocolate ganache.
My overall responsibility is generating demand in a way that's mindful of the triple bottom line: people, profit and planet.Ross Farquhar
Central to this success is their commitment to sustainability and ethical practices, as evidenced by their B Corp certification journey, which Ross shared with students. This was a familiar area for the students who had been learning about the values of B Corp earlier in the semester, and Ross brought to life what the process of becoming accredited looked like.
Ross stressed the importance of sustainability, advocating for capitalism that benefits society as a whole. He highlighted the B Corp framework as a holistic approach to business, balancing profit with environmental and social responsibility. The framework it provides helps businesses keep to the highest possible standards, and not just in their areas of strength, but in the ‘tricky’ areas, too.
Advice for students
For students looking to the job market, Ross emphasised the importance of energy, a willingness to learn, and the value of part-time jobs as pathways to broader opportunities.
He encouraged them to remain open-minded about their career paths and to consider entrepreneurial ventures.
Following the lecture, some of the first year students took advantage of the opportunity to join Ross over lunch to learn more from him and ask questions in a more relaxed setting.
In the afternoon, he then took part in an informal careers Q&A led by Alumni Relations Manager Eilidh Campbell, for interested MSc and MBA students, as well as undergraduates from other year groups.
Background: The Jubilee Lecture
The annual Jubilee Lecture commemorates the connections between the University of Edinburgh and the business world. Established in the late 1960s to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Business School, it takes place in the Global Challenges for Business course attended by first-year students transitioning to university life, offering them vital insights into the challenges and opportunities in the global business arena.