Search Seven Spotlight: Maddi Sheppard

It’s a new week, and time to welcome another new starter in the form of our paid media executive, Maddi Sheppard! Maddi joins us having completing a Business and Media degree and a stint travelling around Australia. Somehow she’s also managed to fit in a work placement, helped establish a start-up business and learnt how to tile a roof. She tells us more…

What started you out in a career in Digital Marketing?

It began within my placement year where I was given the responsibility to do the odd social media post as well as working on the company’s website. Since then, I’ve had a part-time job supporting a start-up tutoring business, tending to accounts, planning the website and creating content. And most recently I worked for a digital agency in Hampshire, in the SEO department. It gave me a taste for agency work, which I loved, and knowledge in SEO. After working there I decided it was the area I wanted to work in moving forward.

What was your most recent role and what you did you enjoy about it?

My most recent role was in Australia, working for a high-rise glazing company. My job role saw me acquiring contact information of prospective clients, and then contacting them by email or phone, which was met with some animosity! My favourite aspect was doing research into skyscrapers in the country, which I found really interesting, also getting to know the cities better and getting to walk around Brisbane and Melbourne to find new buildings to target for the company.

What attracted to you the role at Search Seven?

Initially, the role of Paid Media Executive stood out to me, as I wanted to continue my agency and digital marketing work that I enjoyed so much before I went travelling. Search Seven really stood out because of its dedication to charity work as well as the personal development that was offered. As someone that is finally settling after University and travelling, it was important to me to find a company with an ethos that I believed in but also in a place that I could develop and grow my skills.

Who has influenced you most when it comes to how you approach your work?

My manager from my placement year. She is the kindest person, a very supportive manager and also knew how to speak with assertiveness and confidence, which I admired, especially as a woman in a male-dominated industry. We also bonded over our obsessions with lists and organisation!

What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of?

Getting my work placement during University. Even though I was studying Business and Marketing, I had no marketing experience within a workplace, and managed to land a marketing and communication internship at a manufacturing company. It’s given me experience and knowledge that has continued to aid me getting my previous roles. I also learned how to tile a roof!

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Obsessively watching any of the Real Housewives series. I know too many quotes/useless facts.

What’s your go-to karaoke song?

Independent Woman by Destiny’s Child - I “performed” this with my best friend at a bar in Australia and it was recorded, unfortunately.

Which three people - dead or alive - would you invite round for dinner/choose to go to the pub with?

David Attenborough, Ricky Gervais and Beyoncé

If you could only have three apps on your phone, which would you pick?

Spotify, Instagram, Deliveroo

Are you a dog person or a cat person (or neither)?

A big dog person! I lose my mind anytime I see any dog.