Where are they now? 3 years after On Purpose with Freya Evans

Can you tell us about your background and your career prior to On Purpose?

Before On Purpose, I spent nearly nine years’ working in marketing across large retail organisations in beauty and fashion - including Estée Lauder Companies, Boden and Debenhams. I gained great experience in marketing and comms roles, but over time I started to feel disconnected from the mission behind the work.

I then moved to a hospitality marketing agency, which felt more aligned with my interests and I loved the faster pace and smaller team. But after a personal life change, I took time off to travel solo around the world. That space gave me time to reflect and realise I wanted my career to align much more closely with my values - particularly around nature and the environment.

Why did you join the On Purpose Associate Programme?

I really wanted my career to align with my values and topics I cared about deeply. I had explored doing a Master’s in sustainability, but I didn’t want to go back into a classroom. When someone recommended the Associate Programme, it felt like the perfect way to gain real-world experience in the impact space while figuring out whether I wanted a complete career pivot or simply a shift in mission.

The structure really suited how I like to learn - combining hands-on placements with interactive, reflective Friday sessions. I was also at a crossroads in my career. Some other routes would have pushed me down one specific pathway, whereas On Purpose gave me space to explore different organisations and roles before deciding what came next.

It's been three years since you completed the Associate Programme. What are you doing now?

I now work at WRAP, an environmental NGO focused on building a circular economy. I’m in the Partner Marketing team, working on business engagement, specifically within the Plastics and Packaging programme.

A big part of WRAP’s work is delivering voluntary agreements - bringing together organisations across the supply chain, from government to major brands like Coca-Cola, Unilever and UK supermarkets, to work towards shared sustainability goals, acting ahead of policy. A part of my role is leading all communications involved in the UK packaging agreement, helping drive engagement and progress towards circularity goals.

Can you tell us more about your placements?

My first placement was at Altruistiq, a climate carbon accounting tech startup. I worked on the organisation’s B Corp certification, which meant stepping away from marketing and into a completely new skill set. I worked across different teams and gained exposure to how a mission-driven tech company operates. It was my first time working in an environmentally focused organisation, and I loved being surrounded by people who were deeply passionate about what they were building.

My second placement was at South Kilburn Trust, a charity in northwest London. It was a small team, and I worked closely with the CEO on a range of projects centred around engaging the local community through a community centre. It was a very different environment - hands-on, varied, and sometimes challenging - but incredibly valuable. I actually continued working with the charity for around six months after the programme ended.

What’s the most important thing you learnt during your year as an Associate?

I learned that there was a whole world of work out there that felt much better aligned for me. A big question going into the programme was whether I needed to completely pivot away from marketing and comms.

Through doing roles that didn’t rely on my previous skillset, I realised I was capable of much more than I thought. The exposure to new challenges gave me confidence and showed me I had transferable skills beyond what I’d specialised in for years. It helped me see that I wasn’t boxed in - and that was incredibly empowering.

What support did you get along the way?

I’ve never felt more supported in my life. My cohort are some of the best people I’ve ever met, and that community has continued well beyond the programme.

The mentoring and coaching were also hugely valuable - I hadn’t really done that kind of reflective work before. Having dedicated space to think deeply about what I wanted, with structured support around me, felt like a real luxury.

And of course, the On Purpose team was always there, cheering us on and providing support where needed.

How did you approach finding a job after the programme?

I made a conscious decision not to spend the final months of the programme stressing about what was next. I wanted to be present and make the most of the experience.

Towards the end, I started having conversations - reaching out to On Purpose Fellows, previous placement hosts, and others in the On Purpose network. I had lots of exploratory calls to learn from people who’d gone through it before me. In the end, I stayed on at South Kilburn Trust for about six months before moving into my current role at WRAP.

What do you miss about your old career, and what don’t you miss?

I sometimes miss the higher pay cheque - moving into the impact space did involve a pay cut. But it’s a sacrifice I don’t regret.

What I definitely don’t miss is working in environments where people felt disconnected or disengaged from the mission. In the impact space, there’s a different kind of energy - people genuinely care about what they’re working on. That passion is energising, and it makes a huge difference to how it feels to show up every day.

What advice would you give to others in a similar situation?

Applying to On Purpose was one of the most transformative decisions I’ve made. The combination of hands-on experience, reflective learning, and real support is unique.

To get the most out of it, though, you have to lean into the discomfort. There’s a lot of reflection, a lot of talking about yourself, and that can feel intense. But if you embrace it, you’ll get so much more out of the year. Whether you’re feeling clear on your direction or completely lost, the programme gives you space to find your answers.