Director Suggests Continuing Education To Stay Ahead Of Technology
Brendan Lowry is marketing director at Philadelphia tech startup Curalate. This new startup helps brands bring their stories to life by using imagery that is engaging to their consumers. Curalate offers innovative marketing tools with a focus on visual social media. Their clients include such brands as Neiman Marcus, Time Inc., Michael Kors and more.
What sort of education is needed to successfully do your job?
"Education that takes you outside of the classroom. It's one thing to study a textbook, but the most valuable education happens when you're put in unfamiliar situations where you need to think creatively, act professionally, and trust your instinct. For me, going to school in Philadelphia gave me access to unique opportunities within the tech industry, which ultimately allowed me to pursue a career in something I'm truly passionate about."
What is the most relevant aspect of your education that applies to your day-to-day job?
"Technology has given us great tools to connect with people in a million different ways, but those tools are nothing if you don't know how to put them to work. I'm constantly drawing upon my education in PR to effectively turn online connections into offline relationships. This is something I apply every single day, whether it's in sales, hiring, or expanding my personal network."
What is the most fun aspect of your job?
"In the tech industry, things happen at lightning speed. You can have an idea one afternoon, and see that idea come to life the next day. The idea of building something, whether from scratch or improving upon something that's already been done, is incredibly exciting to me. That's what I get to do every day."
What advice would you give someone just starting out in the field of technology?
"Keep learning. The tech industry will never stop changing, and the rate at which it changes will only pick up. If you're constantly learning, you have a unique opportunity to become an expert on something before anyone else does and companies will always need experts."
Christina Thompson is a freelance writer living in Philadelphia. She reports on various topics such as: Social Media, Local Events, Entertainment, Food and Drink and more. Her work can be found at http://firstsendmedia.com/