From Pandemonium to Prosperity: A Thank You Note

Dear Magnificent Team at Education Centre of Australia (ECA),

As I sit here with my third cup of coffee—yes, the same one that fuels our collective productivity and occasional moments of brilliance—I am struck by the overwhelming urge to give thanks. So, dear team, gather 'round. It’s time to dole out some much-deserved thanks, served with a side of humour, and maybe a dash of sappiness.

First, let me talk about the Engine, the chaos-slaying dragon aiming for a mythical universe: ECA Marketing. And its lifeblood: caffeine. To our coffee aficionados and tea connoisseurs (with ECA Marketing in the lead, closely followed by Recruitment and Admissions), your steadfast commitment to keeping ECA marketing running at a steady 80 beats per minute is nothing short of heroic. Every cup brewed and every sip taken has fuelled not just our bodies but our collective creativity. ECA Marketing Team, my bellowed Dream Architects, here's to the quiet morning moments of contemplation over a steaming mug, where the seeds of our greatest ideas were planted. Without coffees labelled Alex (Yup, that's Alp Hacioglu ) , afternoon teas on Ching’s desk, Thais Stoduto 's virtual coffee breaks, Carlos Larotonda 's afternoon French-pressed brew and firm belief that our Indonesian rock stars Yunisa Rahmania , Santika A Dita and Axel A. do the same, I might have drifted off into caffeine-less oblivion, lost forever in the haze of afternoon drowsiness.

To the tech wizards who can turn a computer glitch into a distant memory faster than you can say "reboot," I salute you. Your ability to navigate the labyrinthine world of software updates and system crashes with the grace of a seasoned tightrope walker is truly a marvel. If ECA offices were a medieval kingdom, you'd be the knights, defending our realm from the ever-looming threats of crashed websites and the dreaded blue screen of death. Your fearless battles against the forces of technological chaos (and our total and utter lack of understanding) have kept me sane and slightly less prone to throwing my computer out the window. (And thank you for the greatest gift: letting Sydney Marketing turn the room formerly known as IT storage into our marketing lair.) Thank you Alex Grossi !

And then, there's the glue that holds it all together: ECA administrative maestros, the project wizards Audrey Trevisan , directors of first impressions at the reception and the Sorceress of Patience known as Rupesh’s EA Danielle Aquino Silva . You are the unsung heroes of the calendar invites, the masters of global crazy booking requests, backstage leaders of the company and the whisperers of orders and deliveries. Without you, I'd be adrift in a sea of missed appointments and misplaced sanity, struggling to stay afloat in the choppy waters of organizational disarray.

Drum roll, please – I am now thanking the Recruitment and Admissions geniuses whose brainstorming sessions resemble something between a think tank and an improv comedy show. Your ideas, while sometimes bordering on the fantastical, have pushed me to new heights. Whether it's a marketing campaign that involves a flash mob of dancing llamas or a product launch with a surprise twist ending, your boundless drive and persistence kept me on my toes and constantly entertained. You remind me that innovation thrives where there's a willingness to take risks—and maybe laugh a little in the process. Make sure to keep on using the Marketing Request form Huan Wang , Ritvik Srivastava , Suzie Wu , Amanda Zirbes , Rose Vianna Passarelli , Joon Wong , Jazner Estrada , Andrés Alvarez , Andres Usme , James Collins , Natsumi Asai , Nayan kumar reddy Nandhigani , elaine chen and everyone else.

And now to the Finance team. Oh, you wonderful wizards of the ledger, you magicians of the balance sheet! Thanks for making sure our ship doesn’t sink under the weight of financial confusion, and for always being the voice of reason when someone tries to sneak in a ridiculous expense. (Looking at no one in particular, and their “essential” office hoverboard.)

Next up, our incredible Student-facing and Campus Teams. You are the frontlines, the face, the friendly smiles that greet every student and partner. Your patience is legendary. Whether it’s helping a student navigate the Byzantine labyrinth of bureaucracy or soothing a panicked newbie at the start of a semester, you handle it all with grace, humour, and an endless supply of candy from that mysterious bottomless jar on your desk. Thanks for being the unsung heroes, the ones who keep the student experience running smoothly and make sense of the top-of-the-funnel work I’ve been doing by showing me the true value – students. (And thanks for being my brainstorming buddies when building an ECA basketball team Karol Clancy and being the best boxing gym buddy ever Lukasz Karpinski )

Finally, to the Leadership team, who steer this ship with a combination of wisdom, patience, and the occasional strategic quote Fernando Scarmozzino , Andrew Holloway and Scott Dickson . I am grateful for your guidance. I am very thankful for your emotional support and fashion tips Lee Kennedy-Davidson ! All of you manage to strike the perfect balance between being approachable and maintaining that air of mysterious authority Rupesh Singh . Your open-door policy (both literal and metaphorical) has fostered an environment where I have felt valued and heard. But I will not dwell on the added value of my dear mentor, Gavin Dowling - A box of tissues readily handed over during an annual meltdown. (by the way, if you want to see Gavin’s latest search history, click here.) But seriously, let’s not forget the uncanny ability to deliver pep talks that would make even the most stoic motivational speaker shed a tear (I’m referring to you, Rodrigo Guimar?es ). Sharon Oh , Lena Shifrina , Luciano D'Ambrosi and Loren D'Souza , you have been the silent supporters who kept me going. Your collaboration, support, and understanding were the wind beneath my slayer wings. I appreciate your willingness to work with me and your flexibility when the plans changed as frequently as a chameleon on a kaleidoscope.

A special shoutout goes to our HR team. You are the secret sauce that keeps our office culture zesty and delightful. From orchestrating training sessions that don’t make us want to fake our own deaths, to ensuring we all remember anniversaries and milestones, your efforts are the glue that binds us.

To each of you, from the bottom of my coffee cup-stained heart, thank you. Thank you for your dedication, your humour, and your unflagging support. Thank you for being not just a group of coworkers, but a family.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I also want to thank you for putting up with my sometimes questionable jokes and occasional bouts of over-caffeinated enthusiasm. Your patience in these moments was truly commendable.

So here’s to you, the dream team of ECA. Keep pushing boundaries, breaking barriers, and making magic happen. And remember, no matter how many hoverboards a Person-Who- Shall-Not-Be-Named tries to sneak past Finance, we’re all in this together.

I couldn’t have done it without you, and frankly, I wouldn’t want to.

With endless gratitude and a touch of humour,

Anja

Director of Marketing (ECA Group 2021 – 2024) & Chaos Slayer (forever)

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