It’s arguably a rarity to hear of a PHP developer turned digital marketer, but that’s exactly the background that Kim Greenop-Gadsby is able to share with us. Here, she tells us of her career so far, and why those qualifications aren’t the be-all and end-all when it comes to working in the digital sector. It’s been amazing to meet you, Kim!
I had started off as a PC technician in South Africa when I left school. I was lucky enough that the company I worked for (which I did an apprenticeship with first) introduced me into website development. Within a few years, I was a senior PHP developer, and one of the few women coding in this language.
After working as a PHP developer for 7 years and moving to the UK, I felt I needed to make a change. I had been exposed to some digital marketing and decided to take a role as a digital marketing executive. This was a lower pay-grade to what I had been on previously, but it gave me exposure to many different aspects of digital marketing. I fell instantly in love with email marketing, and because of my background, I had an instant connection with the more technical aspect. Before long, @EmailGeekUK was born.
I’m currently Email Marketing Manager for Smart Insights, but my ambition is to become a Marketing Automation Guru. Marketing Automation has been around for years, but hasn’t been utilised as much as it should have. I love my job, and I love digital because this is one of the few industries that can change overnight. It keeps you on your toes.
If I could have a conversation with my younger self, (other than telling her to avoid that third boyfriend like the plague), I would tell her to have a lot more confidence in herself, and to question authoritative men more.
“We call upon our sisters around the world to be brave — to embrace the strength within themselves and realise their full potential.” — Malala Yousafzai
This quote means a lot to me. I’m a feminist and have always felt an affinity with digital, and I’ve always been lucky to have a very supportive family when I was younger and an extremely supportive husband now.
To all the women out there, who want a career in digital, do it! Read as much as you can (blog posts are brilliant because they are free and they give excellent insight), get a mentor, and don’t be scared to ask questions. Thankfully this is one profession where qualifications don’t mean too much, because technology changes so much. No matter what route you want to take, be it development, marketing, reporting, just remember to believe in yourself and remember that your voice matters too.
Have a story to tell that will inspire others to get into digital? Get in touch at [email protected]
