Catalyst 2018 Review and 2019 Preview
Kate SchmeisserTo kick off 2019 we’re taking a look back at a few of the Catalyst videos released in 2018 and a look forward to what’s to come in 2019.
If you’re not familiar, Catalyst is SendGrid’s new video series that’s focused on sharing marketer’s career stories (risks taken, advice for starting out, big wins, and learnings moments along the way) from professionals around the world. We seek out individuals who are engaging in digital marketing in real-time, so their stories and advice can positively influence other marketer’s careers in real-time!
Liam’s Catalyst Story
First up, we have Liam Solomon. Liam lives in London and works for fashion startup Love the Sales that focuses on partnering with brands to connect price-conscious shoppers with deals.
Like many other graduates, Liam was looking forward to getting in at the ground floor of a large company and working his way up. He quickly realized that that wasn’t the environment in which he would thrive, so he pivoted to a startup. These days he’s enjoying the freedom and sense of accomplishment he gets from seeing the direct impact he’s making on the business. Check out a brief snippet of his interview below. (Interviews edited and condensed for clarity.)
Is there anyone who has had an influence on your career? And if so, who?
We have three entrepreneurial founders and I worked very closely with them at the beginning. I’d say things like self-reliance, discipline, you know kind of getting the job done—all those things rub off on you. And you kind of get thrown in the deep end a little bit and you definitely come out a different person at the end of it.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give yourself after graduating?
I think one piece of advice I’d give (myself) after graduating university would be don’t rush into anything. It’s a bit of a corny saying, but I rather be at the bottom of a ladder you want to climb then on a middle of a ladder that you don’t want to climb. So I would say don’t rush into anything—assess your options—and also don’t worry too much about what everyone else is doing. You know you. Everyone goes to their own pace and in the end of it is your goals that you want to hit anyway.
Dany’s Catalyst Story
Next, we were lucky enough to chat with Dany Warman. Dany lives in San Francisco and works for a company that focuses on shifting the paradigm of water usage to more sustainable solutions. Dany knew that she wanted to work in impact marketing (marketing with a social purpose) from the very beginning of her career, but the industry she finds herself in today? That’s another story. (Interviews edited and condensed for clarity.)
What’s one piece of advice you’d give yourself after graduating?
Don’t be afraid to go back to school. Right now there’s so many careers (that are) kind of packed into these like short-term certificates. I got my job because I took a certificate at General Assembly in Digital Marketing and that really helped me be able to speak the language that was required to get that job. I didn’t have a lot of experience, (but) what they could see is that I had the will and I had the curiosity and I wanted to learn and all I needed was an opportunity.
What excites you most for the future?
Right now what excites me the most about the future is being able to fully develop in my career in this water tech company that I’m working for and seeing that (…) become very successful. I see the potential of the product and being able to disrupt how we use and relate to water. So if I can be part of that from the beginning and if I can you know give my two cents in seeing an industry be disrupted—I think it’s one of those moments in (my) life that I will look back and say: I was part of that.
If you’re hungry for more marketer’s career stories then look no further than our full Catalyst guide! Stay tuned for upcoming Catalyst releases featuring a Sr. Director of Marketing for an education startup, a Marketing Specialist from an enterprise tech company, and a Marketing Manager from a leading foreign exchange business.
We’re just getting started.
