Date: August 2017

I walked out of the doors from my internship at Marketing Eye Sydney for the last time today. I could feel a small lump in my throat as I entered the elevator, pushed the button to the ground floor, and finally walked through the automatic glass doors onto William St, Woolloomooloo.

On the 28th of August, I celebrate another year, and for that I am forever grateful.

Catalyst, a non-profit organisation providing research services into women in the workforce recently reported that females made up only 16.3% of CEO positions and 34.1% of senior management positions in 2016.

Being a young woman with high hopes in business and seeing these kinds of statistics is both disheartening and motivating. On one hand, it pushes you to think “I can do this, I can really make a difference”, then some days you see the number of male figureheads of a company or even the country, shake your head and wonder if it’s worth it (pro tip: it is).

Anyone can buy followers and likes on Instagram, but what does that achieve? The numbers don’t mean a thing for sales when they have come from robots who don’t need their product and don’t even have credit cards! (ha..ha…)

In not so many words, the other day I was told that I couldn't play with the big boys because they had more money and could get a software solution out faster than I could. It was devastating to hear, but it was the second time this person who I respect immensely has said this to me.

Did most of the tech companies that became billion dollar enterprises not start from garages? Did they have hundreds of millions to play with when they started? I don't think so. So, why would I not be able to self fund my startups that are disruptive and bring to the market products and solutions that will change the game?

Sitting at my desk that overlooks the Sydney city skyline and harbour, I often look out and cannot appreciate more just how fortunate I am.

I work with immensely talented people, who put their heart and soul into their jobs. I mentor people that are not only appreciative, but really good people. I am mentored by what I consider the best of the best, although I don't always think so when I am 'wrapped over the knuckles' usually because my focus is on the 'new shiny toy' and they don't want me taking my eye off the ball.

The Liberal Party has firmly lost my vote. The fact that they think it is ok to throw away $122 million on a plebiscite postal ABS vote is attrocious. We voted you in to make decisions, not sit on the fence and waste our tax payer money. 

If I was to say to you that I was able to give you a marketing strategy that guarantees a competitive advantage - would you say yes?

In fact, would you sign up now, knowing that it is highly unlikely that your competitors will get into the top 100 signup, which will complete the testing of the robot?

If you don't believe in it, why do it? 

I had breakfast with 'the devil's advocate' this morning. A dear friend who always asks a lot of questions and is possibly so seasoned that instead of having a glass half full when a new idea or business starts, he spends a little too much time in focusing on what won't work.

You may have read that robots will not replace marketers - and I am going to tell you now, in this blog, that largely they will. Marketing as a profession will change in the next 12 month to 2 years so dramatically, that everyone will need to re-invent themselves and companies that are still selling the same old marketing skill set, will find that they no longer have a business.