What’re you doing now post-studies?
Marketing for Cardrona & Treble Cone.
Some of my responsibilities include: Creating content for and managing 4 Instagram, 4 Facebook, 2 Linkedin, 1 Tik Tok and 1 Youtube account with over 308K combined total followers, managing media plans and budgets, and campaign concepting and reporting
What’s been the most memorable experience so far post-studies?
Something that stands out to me when I look back at my study vs what I’m doing now is the variety of work I’ve done post-studying that I never would have foreseen off the back of my studies. Sales/advertising and now marketing. It took me a solid 8 years post study to really find my niche and I absolutely know I’m in not only the right industry, but the right role for me.
What is one achievement that makes you proud?
Getting my current role at Cardrona & Treble Cone was an absolute dream role at the time and having since gone on to start my own charity, which would produce a film for The North Face, was in my wildest dreams.
Ladies Behind The Lens is a charity which aims to help more women into filmmaking in the adventure industry. I established the charity and sourced over $27K in funding from massive outdoor brands like The North Face and Dragon. Alongside this funding, I created the brand, website and an application process which successfully attracted 80 unique applicants both nationally and internationally. Our small group of successful applicants (including myself) went on through a mentorship and workshop programme with an aim to create their first ever adventure documentary (of which they have now done and has been accepted into the New Zealand Mountain Film Festival coming up this year in 2024!). Ultimately, we hope to encourage other women to explore their interest in filmmaking and the charity will go on to support this.
What’s been you’re biggest learning experience?
1. There have been so many. Being able to work hard and prove yourself off your own back - ie, creating work to showcase without experience might just be the foot in the door you need (it was for me)! Building a creative portfolio is one skill, but also being able to showcase what you can bring in the workplace is another. I started creating content for a small art project (@coldsnapclub) in which I sell my own art prints and paintings. It was through this I learnt everything in the social media space.
2. If you want to make the big bucks, base yourself in the cities. If you want work/life balance, consider places like Wanaka or Queenstown. Also consider what you’re marketing… typically the more fun industries like outdoors/tourism might not pay as much as say services.
What’s been you’re biggest challenge?
Proving yourself when you’re new in an industry or a particular role takes time. No matter how good you are, you’re still always going to have to prove yourself with time in a role, and then again and again and again when you move on to new roles, industries and challenges.
What’s one piece of advice you’d pass on to someone wanting to get into a career in a similar industry to you?
Start creating! Start a creative side hustle or blog that allows you to show up and be creative. Build a personal brand and just keep applying for opportunities. If you truly believe you can do something and do it well, just apply (no matter what the job description says)! It might take you a few goes before you get a dream role, but take each opportunity as a learning experience and build up on that.
When sending in your CV and cover letter. Submit them as PDFs and make sure you’ve double checked you’ve saved the document with the relevant job down. You’ll be surprised how many people have sent in cover letters that have the wrong company on them.
For interviewing, use the STAR method. Have a few examples prepared and don’t be afraid to take a notebook in with you with any prompts. It’s not a memory test.
Oh, and quantify things in your CV – people hiring love numbers. The higher up someone is in a business, the more likely they will be working on the strategy and will speak in proven numbers - ie,
This: Creating content for and managing 4 Instagram, 4 Facebook, 2 Linkedin, 1 Tik Tok and 1 Youtube account with over 308K combined total followers
Not this: I look after social media for Cardrona and Treble Cone.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
This changes based on whatever personal projects I’m working on! Shannon Corsi was a big inspiration for me when I started Ladies Behind The Lens.
