About Me — Carly Gerlach
Adventurer. Explorer. Hufflepuff.
Hello! Welcome to my page!
I love exploring the unknown, discovering something new and learning through experiences. This passion and curiosity have made me a lifelong learner, always seeking to understand and make sense of the world around me.
I grew up in the midwest region of the United States, but am currently living in London. I moved here a little over a year ago to pursue my MBA at Imperial College London.
Growing up, I loved everything to do with the performing arts. I was a theater kid, pursuing every chance to get on stage I could find in midwest suburbia. I loved the creative process and being a part of a team of people, each bringing their unique gifts, ideas and skills to bring a story to life.
At university, I found new passions in marketing and travel. I studied marketing and international business at Miami University (the one in Ohio, not Florida). I loved learning about the marketing process and how companies can continue to put their customer at the center of everything. I was always particularly interested in consumer behaviour and the psychology behind why we make purchase decision and how businesses effectively tap into that process. One of the most transformative experiences during my college years was spending a semester abroad in Shanghai, China. This was my first time truly leaving the United States and when I fell in love with travelling. Through that experience, I became a global citizen, enthralled by how much there is to explore and learn out in the world. Living in China opened my eyes to a world, culture and way of life so different from the one I grew up in.
After graduation, I moved to Chicago, where I lived and worked for 5 years. While there, I revisited my passion for theater by jumping into the world of improvisational comedy. Improv is the art of stepping on stage with a group of fellow performers and making the show up as you go. After a few years of classes, I was regularly performing on stages across the city with various groups. Improv has been one of the most significant learning experiences of my life. From becoming a better listener, to thinking on my feet to practicing self forgiveness and rapid failure, I owe so much of who I am to those years on stage.
I also spent my time in Chicago pursuing new interests. Having never run a full mile in my life (I did ballet growing up), in 2015, I signed up for the Chicago marathon. Across 6 months, I ran my first mile, 5K, 10K, half marathon and in October 2015, I completed my first marathon. I now love running (though I tend to stick to half marathons for the time being), pushing myself further and achieving new personal records. Running reminds me that I can do anything I set my mind to with a little determination, dedication and discipline.
I’m now an avid traveller having lived and worked on 3 different continents and travelled to 20+ countries in the last 10 years. A year ago, I moved to London, where I’m currently living. I love exploring this beautiful city and hoping once it’s safe to travel again (post-COVID), I’ll get to explore more of this country!
My passion for exploration and curiosity has helped me develop a career in market research, insights and strategy. I love making sense of the world around me through research and insights to inform corporate growth strategies. Whether that be in marketing, innovation or international growth. I get excited seeing new innovations companies are making, or understanding the latest consumer trends being discussed!
I’m still figuring out my voice on Medium and what I’ll continue to write about, whether it’s sharing various experiences and stories or discussing the latest consumer trends. Either way, I love trying new things and hope to share more about my journeys, adventures and learnings here on Medium!
