{"id":26679,"date":"2022-02-14T08:25:19","date_gmt":"2022-02-13T19:25:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nzie.ac.nz\/?p=26679"},"modified":"2022-02-14T14:30:58","modified_gmt":"2022-02-14T01:30:58","slug":"success-story-ashleigh-wanaka-digital-marketer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nzie.ac.nz\/success-story-ashleigh-wanaka-digital-marketer\/","title":{"rendered":"Wanaka Digital Marketer Ashleigh \u2013 from horse riding pro to remote working strategist."},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
Hi my name is Ashleigh Wells, a digital marketing graduate from the South Island in Wanaka, New Zealand.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div> \u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div> I saw so much potential in a friend’s business but felt it was being held back by not having a good marketing strategy. I could see exactly where all the gaps were, but I lacked the practical skills to help her improve. <\/span>That\u2019s when I decided to look into studying digital marketing.<\/span><\/p> \u201cSeeing a business with SO much potential and not being able to help is what really drove my decision to upskill. Once I opened myself up to the idea of digital marketing, I noticed so many other small businesses in need, too.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t I had always wanted to study something along the lines of psychology or neuroscience. But that would have involved having to give up my horses, which wasn\u2019t an option. Unfortunately, I wasn\u2019t in a position where I could easily relocate to a physical campus either. Furthermore, I knew a generic university degree wouldn\u2019t quite give me the skillset I needed to make a serious impact. So, finding something online to study became my preference. Especially with residing in a more isolated town like Wanaka.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div> Then I came across NZIE on Google one day. At the time I didn\u2019t realise it was an online remote campus but inquired anyway. When Phil, the recruitment advisor, contacted me and said I didn\u2019t have to come to Auckland to attend classes I was instantly hooked.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div> \u00a0\u201cThe fact that it was NZQA accredited, added weight behind the entire Digital Marketing Diploma and really solidified my decision. You can\u2019t look past an NZQA qualification.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t My goal was to build up my confidence in digital marketing so I could run my own business. I wanted the practical skills in all aspects of digital to be able to offer all those services to businesses in need.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p> \u201cQualifications are changing, and students need real-world assessments that align with industry. NZIEs assessments helped me gain industry-relevant experience which gave me confidence in applying the practical skills taught in our digital classrooms.\u201d<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Yes, I now have the luxury to choose whatever I want to pursue. The cool thing is the tutors are all industry experts that have industry connections. If you do well during your time with NZIE, you gain the endorsement of NZIE\u2019s industry professionals who can vouch for you when you go out into the workforce. Both the tutors and client success team are also excellent for connecting you up with their industry partners, agencies, contacts, referring jobs to you and even clients.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div> You\u2019re not just another student coming through, I had no expectations when finishing up but really felt that since completing the course that I still have ALL that support from NZIE. Especially Jana from the Client Success Team who is extremely attentive and dedicated to helping me transition into the industry. As well as Jen, the Social Media\/Email Marketing tutor, who has been a great mentor.<\/span><\/p> All along, as a student, we\u2019ve always been told that support is available and that the NZIE family are always there for us. It\u2019s the cherry on top of everything else gained from studying with them.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t I found it suited me <\/span>really well<\/span>, because I like working autonomously and independently. I like being left to my own devices and to just get on with it at my own pace and in my own space. Whether that be from my lounge or outdoors on the farm.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div> \u00a0<\/span><\/p> At the start when I was finding my <\/span>groove,<\/span> I struggled with being confident in my work until term 3 after growing my skills, knowledge and understanding. It takes a lot of self-responsibility and self-discipline to manage studying outside of a physical classroom. In addition to juggling other day-to-day activities and life admin.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
<\/span>I came home to start my own business. One of my goals was to find something that allowed me to live a flexible lifestyle.<\/span><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\tWhat drew you into Digital Marketing? \u200b<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Were there any road blocks you had to overcome before jumping into study?\u200b<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
What goals did you have coming into the Digital Marketing course?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>
Can you achieve those goals now that you\u2019ve completed your study?<\/h3>
How did you find the 100% online learning format? \u200b<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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What was your favourite part of your NZIE experience?\u200b<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t