From Scheduling Posts to Shaping Strategy: Maddie’s Digital Leap
When you think about building a career in Digital Media, you might imagine years of study before landing a dream job. But for Maddie – and many others – the journey starts with a leap into the unknown and a whole lot of learning as you go!
From assisting with projects and events to designing websites and creating digital content, she’s now the Digital Media and Young Enterprise Scheme Co-ordinator at Brella Projects, proving that passion, clever-thinking and hands-on experience can be a powerful asset.
Brella Projects works with businesses, schools and communities to create engaging, people-focused projects that help build stronger, smarter futures and create opportunities for young people.
Here’s how Maddie turned her entry-level role into a career she loves…
Maddie Walker
Digital Media and Young Enterprise Scheme Co-ordinator
Maddie’s Career Advice
“Be prepared to be surprised, be flexible and adaptable. Usually, how I expect my day, week, or year to play out is not how it will happen! You will enjoy it a lot more if you just get on board and go with the flow. ”
A chat with Maddie about her role
What do you do in your role?
My role at Brella involves working with a handful of businesses and clients including FutureForce® Career Hub, Smart Waikato and WECA – Waikato Engineering Careers Association. I do all kinds of things from building websites, filming and editing videos, and creating resources to running workshops, hosting events, attending careers expos. My role is sort of a hybrid between marketing, events coordination and digital media.
I’m also the Waikato Regional Coordinator of Young Enterprise Scheme which is a really cool programme where high school students start up and business for a year. I get to help students from lots of different schools with their business ideas, I organise regional events like a market day and our awards night, and I get to travel around the region and the country to visit students and schools. It’s a lot of work but it’s a lot of fun!
How did you get started?
I started working at Brella straight from high school, in an admin type role as a Projects Assistant. This started out as helping the team with a variety of projects and event organisation. Brella gave me the opportunity to do a cadetship – which meant I was given paid release time to study business papers at the University of Waikato. This was really exciting for me because I didn’t get my NCEA Level 3, so I wasn’t sure I would get the opportunity to study at University.
With mentorship from the team, I learnt more and more and so I was given more responsibility and my role progressed into working in digital media. I began developing websites and using my creative abilities and even though I was young and didn’t have much experience, I picked it up fast and enjoyed what I was doing.
What kind of study or qualifications have you done?
Before starting out here, I didn’t have any qualifications, but I have been supported by Brella with lots of professional development opportunities.
I began a cadetship for my first two years. Essentially this is when you study alongside your work as a career progression. I did a few business papers at The University of Waikato, which gave me a broad view of the business world and how my work fit into this bigger picture. I also did a Certificate in Digital Marketing and Graphic Design Training, both through Yoobee College of Creative Innovation.
What skills have you learnt on the job?
Honestly, everything. I started here with little experience and had to pick up things as I went along. I was given a lot of tasks which I had no idea what to do! So there was a lot of Googling, Youtube tutorials, asking my coworkers and kind of just making it up as I went. There were a lot of mistakes and getting things wrong along the way, but it was learning from these that lead me to where I am today.
I have learned everything from how to scan a document and what’s appropriate email sign off, to public speaking, video editing… and even designing whole websites from scratch.
What do you love about your job?
I love the people I work with. We’re a small team but we get a lot done and I think that’s because of how we all support each other and jump in to help when needed.
Plus I can see the impact we’re making on young people and their whānau every day. Contributing to that bigger picture in a postive way and doing work that lines up with my values is really fufilling.
What's been a challenge and how have you overcome it?
Lately, one of my biggest challenges has been balancing my workload. I care a lot about what we do, so I sometimes take on more than I should! I’ve been learning to prioritise better and speak up when I need help. The team here is super supportive, everyone’s willing to help out, and that makes a big difference.
Maddie Walker
Former Fairfield College
Student
What have you learnt on the job?
“I learnt how to drive! The team literally got me on the road, giving me driving lessons on lunch breaks, allowing me to use the company car to learn, paying for license fees and supporting me along the way. I was a super nervous beginner driver! ”
Maddie’s top tips
What sort of person would suit this role?
Someone who is creative, keen and passionate about what they do. You’ve got to have a bit of hustle and a drive to succeed.
In any role that’s people-focused, things don’t always go to plan – so being resilient and adaptable is important. You’ll need strong communication skills and an ability to work well with others.
If you’re a creative problem solver, a bit of an innovator and eager to learn, then you’ll fit in at Brella!
What advice would you give someone considering this type of work?
You would be surprised how much you can learn on the internet for free! You don’t always need a degree to get started if you’re keen to try it out.
There are so many tools online now that you can use to learn new skills.
And you don’t need to be perfect on the first try. I look back at the first few websites I made and think ‘oh my gosh, what was I doing? That looks so bad!’ But that’s where you need to be willing to take on criticism and work to improve.
What school subjects are useful?
The most important would be English, it is so important to have strong literacy skills. Business subjects are helpful too, things like business studies, economics, commerce and accounting. Being able to work in a group, communicate and look at things with a visual eye.
What do you wish you knew before leaving school?
Get your drivers license – which I did know I needed but I just didn’t do it! I know it seems hard, expensive, scary and takes a lot of time but it really makes a difference so start that process as soon as you can.
Leaving school doesn’t have to be scary. You don’t have to commit to one thing for the rest of your life, there is plenty of time to change, learn adapt, and grow. Your first job is not your forever job and you can make your career as you go. You are not stuck in one thing forever.
What careers may progress from here?
There are endless options in this space! You could lean more into the design side working in graphic design, or you could go down a technical route into web development. I do a mixture of all these different tasks so could I specialise in any of these areas.
I really enjoy making content and being creative, but also making something that provides value to people, I like a task with an end goal and a why.
About Brella Projects
Brella Projects works with regions, employers, educators and communities to deliver engaging, people focused projects with positive outcomes for economic and social prosperity.
We specialise in connecting young people and employers through:
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Experiential initiatives
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Facilitation and brokering
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Digital media and events
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Capability building
Brella also specialise in marketing strategy, brand development, graphic design and web development for small businesses.
Grab a Snapshot of Maddie’s Story
