From Admin to Marketing Tech Events
If you want to keep your finger on the pulse of what’s happening in tech, you might want to head over to TechCrunch, a website dedicated to reporting on news, opinions and analysis from tech companies around the world. The site also hosts myriad conferences around the world—from Disrupt, which focuses on startups, to sessions on robotics and AI.
These events are held in Los Angeles; the Bay Area; Beirut, Lebanon; Zug, Switzerland; Tel Aviv; Paris—tech knows no geographic boundaries and neither do these events. Attendees range from startup founders to executives at Fortune 500 companies.
Promoting these popular events is Certificate Program in Marketing graduate Robert Frawley.
Responsible for B2C marketing and developing partnership strategies, Robert’s passion to create compelling content and storytelling to these various demographics has helped generate millions in ticket sales during the past two-and-a-half years.
As a generalist, Robert wears many hats, juggling creative, technical and managerial tasks. On any given day, you could find him
- writing response-driven copy
- developing a strategy for an upcoming event
- designing digital and print ads
- coordinating paid ad campaigns
- reporting on post-event KPIs
and so much more.
Getting to This Position
After a three-year stint as an administrative officer at UC Berkeley’s Department of Engineering, Robert was drawn to work in marketing. He had done some marketing and public relations gigs during his undergrad
- Social Media Manager and Editor at Go Sportn Inc.
- Publicity Intern at HarperOne Publishers (a division of HarperCollins)
With that work on his résumé, Robert was able to land his current role at TechCrunch—but he desired more formal training on various marketing topics.
“Marketing has always attracted me because it’s not just one thing or task,” Robert says. “It’s a blend of all different disciplines wrapped into one. No day is exactly the same. Each project encompasses something that is new or a unique challenge that needs to be overcome. I thought the certificate would be a good way to formally understand the basics of marketing, learn the lingo and help me create better marketing strategies.”
Hands-On Learning
Social media marketing strategies
Special events project planning
The hands-on, project-based learning in these courses not only helped Robert understand the nuts and bolts of marketing, but it also provided him with a comprehensive portfolio that represents his marketing prowess.
“I enjoyed classes where there were lots of hands-on learning opportunities and where we would create sample professional pieces that we could use in a portfolio,” Robert enthuses. “I found that the instructors were ready to answer questions, and students were looking to learn the same things.”
Those hands-on experiences translates to Robert’s day-to-day work—whether it’s creating a marketing program for a new initiative, writing a press release or creating an ad.
Moving Forward
Not only did Robert learn the ins and outs of marketing, but taking these courses instilled in him a drive to innovate, push forward and not become stagnant.
“You have to constantly be on the lookout for the next opportunity to engage your customers and be able to get out of your comfort zone,” Robert advises. “The certificate is a way to concretely show that I am taking the initiative to become a better marketer and am willing to put in the work to learn and grow.”
