Interview With Stefan (Digital Marketing Manager & Freelancer)

1) Where were you born and raised? Also tell us something unique about yourself.

I was born and raised in Emden, Germany - a quiet town on the North Sea coast. I love all kinds of water, so to be honest, the gym's pool is my main motivation for going there.

2) What got you interested in marketing and what was your journey?

My journey into digital marketing began after completing school, where I spent five years exploring three different fields of study. It became evident to me that traditional theoretical learning wasn't the ideal path for everyone. When the pandemic hit and my previous student job was cancelled, I found myself searching for new opportunities in a remote-work environment.

During this time, I came across leading performance marketing agency Crealytics , where Luana Quaresima , Dominic Sommer and Anne-Kathrin Bender had initiated a programme to not only hire graduate juniors, but also to mentor and train newcomers without formal degrees. I was immediately hooked by the role and the close mentoring, coupled with numerous opportunities to explore new facets of Paid Search, made the learning experience incredibly fulfilling. To this day, I am truly thankful for the opportunity and remain eternally grateful for the doors it opened for me.

I quickly realized that practical, hands-on learning was my preferred method of acquiring knowledge. This experience affirmed my belief that there are many individuals like myself who thrive outside the traditional university system, where bulk learning doesn't always cater to individual strengths and preferences.

I hope my journey can inspire seasoned professionals to mentor new talent in the industry. Not only does this have the potential to create a skilled workforce tailored to your needs, but more importantly, it can be life-changing for young people.

3) What skills and industry do you specialize in?

I specialize in Performance Marketing, specifically Google Ads and Microsoft Ads.

4) What is your best soft skill?

My dedication to always keep learning and my sense of ownership and responsibility for the performance of my client accounts.

5) What softwares and tools do you use regularly?

Google and Microsoft Ads Editor, GA4, Chat GPT, Notion, Looker Studio, Microsoft Power BI.

6) What are your goals for the next year and into the future?

I want to do more offline networking, learn Python, and use AI more to streamline Google Ads management.

7) What has been the hardest thing you dealt with in your career path?

The search for a path to my career.

8) What is the biggest mistake you made that you want others to avoid?

Don’t be afraid of failure. As a great sportsman once said, “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.“

9) Who are your favorite people in the industry that you follow?

Mike Rhodes ?? – For hacking the black box with his awesome Pmax scripts.

Scott Galloway – For marketing expertise with a social conscience.

Jens Polomski – For his innovative approaches to KI and marketing.

10) Who has had the biggest influence on your career to date?

Here I have to give my love to the 3 people that have influenced my journey like no other:

? Katie Rushford - Who showed me what proper project management looks like and with whom every quick sync became a 1h lesson on the keys of the industry.

? Thalia Kemp – Who taught me communication like no other and always believed in me.

? Rosaria Alfano – Who made me grow not only as a marketer, but more importantly, as a person.

11) What has been your favorite course that you taken and why?

My favorite course was the Power BI Essential training. It has given me the skills to work with large datasets and create dynamic dashboards, which has greatly enhanced my skills as a marketer.

12) What would you tell yourself or someone who is just starting out in marketing?

Try to learn from those who have been there before you. Also, never stop running, never stop testing new things.

13) If the entire world was listening to you, what would you have to say?

I would call for empathy, understanding and cooperation. Let's work together to create a fairer and more sustainable future for all.

14) Where can we find you?

LinkedIn is the best place to find me.