2024 has been a great source of inspiration for me. As a graphic designer invested in brand identity and its importance to businesses and individuals, I recognized that digital media marketing is crucial to crafting impactful connections to brand identity. My enrollment in the Digital Media Marketing program at George Brown College was a move to gain the skills and much-needed tools for success in this industry. This semester was particularly enriching, offering many opportunities to interact with industry experts through marketing seminars in my Digital Media Marketing course. These interactions sparked ideas and provided me with valuable insights that I could incorporate into my freelance graphic design and digital media marketing ventures.

Over the past four months, I’ve had the privilege of learning from influential figures in the marketing field. Daniela Furtado from Findable Digital Marketing shared her expertise in SEO, emphasizing the cycle of visualization, creation, and measurement. Scott McDonald, the VP of Audience Experience and Technology at Livewire, highlighted the critical role of internal communications, the importance and the how of creating and sharing organizational messages, something I found very interesting. Chelsea Robinson, the owner and director of Positive Dance Experience, imparted her knowledge of social media marketing, while Qashif Effendi delved into the intricacies of paid media, teaching us to develop integrated marketing communications plans, utilize market segmentation and targeting tools, and measure campaign results.

Opemipo Adeniyi, a former international student at George Brown, shared his journey of establishing a successful news platform, Naija News, launched in 2016 in Nigeria, anchored on search marketing. His insights on leveraging organic traffic were in-depth, and I believe it is very important to understand that startups and small businesses may not have large budgets to work with; knowing how to maximize organic reach is a critical part of digital media management. Mat Krizmanich discussed owned media in product management at Jouleia, stating, “Product Management Is Like Glue.” In this role, you are the one who holds everything together, and Mike Senra, an SME in Digital Analytics, is focused on optimizing ROI from online marketing tactics. Vanessa McQuade, the owner and VP of Marketing Strategy at Intrigue, provided a deep dive into digital strategy, highlighting the five mistakes’ entrepreneurs make. She emphasized the message that listening to your clients or customers and connecting is critical to demonstrating you are working for them and, more importantly, ready to address their pain points and/or desires. An important strategy that I will be mindful of moving forward in my career.

Vivian Hisey’s career planning session was very helpful, offering practical advice and answering career-building questions. Her guidance helped tie together the loose ends of our learning journey. The knowledge, experience, and resources shared with me by these speakers over the last few months will help me strengthen my skill set. I plan to continue and develop my knowledge of Digital Media Marketing and Data Analytics with independent learning through Google Career Certificates, HubSpot, Semrush Academy, Moz Academy, and LinkedIn Learning to name just a few of the available resources. 

Balancing the demands of the second semester’s course load with family and work commitments has been challenging, leaving little room for networking outside the academic sphere. However, platforms like LinkedIn have proven invaluable for connecting with diverse individuals at various stages of their business and career paths. As I approach my final term, I plan to engage with the Start GBC program at George Brown College, leveraging its support and guidance to establish my part-time freelance business in graphic design and digital media marketing.

The networking tips and best practices I’ve learned are not just theoretical knowledge but have taught me the importance of making meaningful connections and the importance of nurturing your brand. Networking has allowed me to uncover opportunities beyond my immediate region, creating many global opportunities. Post-graduation, I plan to contribute to my community by volunteering what I have learned with non-profit organizations, particularly those struggling in the current economic climate. I am confident that the networking skills I have learned over the past year will not only aid in building my business and brand but also empower me to assist others in doing the same.

The journey ahead is exciting. I am confident that the skills and insights I have gained will help me as I continue to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of digital media marketing. I remain committed to lifelong learning and come out of this program knowing one of the most important things is staying on top of the rapid changes in technology, and the use of AI in this industry is key to success. The experiences and knowledge I have gained so far are the foundation for building my place in graphic design and digital media marketing.

Thank you Vivian Hisey for facilitating such an informative and enriching semester by bringing together a diverse array of industry experts, the content shared has been valuable!