I started out by studying ‘interactive media’, as it was called at the time. This involved everything related to the internet: web design, web development and even 3D design. It was the early stages of the internet as we know it now.
I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to travel abroad to the UK to complete my postgraduate studies. My sense of adventure kicked in and, a few months later, I was living in a country that I didn’t really know that much about.
Meanwhile, Facebook had just launched and the very first iPhone was just around the corner, although jobs in online marketing were not yet established or well defined. The distinction between web design and digital marketing was blurry and you could easily be a web designer working in a marketing department. Online marketing as we know it now was not yet a role frequently found on job boards. Thinking back, it was probably a fantastic time for me to start out in the field.
When online marketing jobs started appearing, I quickly moved into several roles in which I developed my understanding of digital marketing. I continued to use my knowledge of web development in my roles as a digital marketer. For me, web development and digital marketing are meant to work together.
Being a digital marketer really is what you make of it. Some people are from a more traditional marketing background and love applying the same principles online, and others appreciate the digital side of things and bring their knowledge of web development into the marketing mix. Each day is different and, with new social media platforms and the continued evolution in technology, the role has really evolved to include many new specializations.
After more than 15 years in the marketing industry, I thought it would be a good time to see whether the grass could be greener on the other side and move to a more project management-based role.
Was my sense of adventure kicking in again? I started looking for a new job and came across this digital project manager role. My partner pointed out that it would be the perfect job for me and said that I should (must!) apply. I decided to apply and was happy to prove my partner right when I was offered the job. It has been a short time since I joined Oxford PharmaGenesis and I already know that it was a great decision to have a look for new roles and to see if the grass was greener on the other side. It has been a new adventure that I am happily embracing!
