I Love to Push The Limits of Marketing.

Reflecting on my marketing career, it's remarkable how much of my knowledge stems from informal learning.

My aspiration to merge my career with technology was clear, though finding my way there through formal education presented its challenges. I studied at Brockenhurst College and the University of Reading until I eventually found my path at Jigsaw Design Studio.

It was at Brockenhurst College, while pursuing an IT Practitioners National Diploma, that I uncovered my passion for Network Management and Web Development.

These subjects might seem distant from marketing, yet they have become integral to my unique perspective on the field and finding the balancing act when working with stakeholder in product marketing and web development.

After achieving a triple distinction at Brockenhurst College, I advanced to the University of Reading to study Computer Science.

This step proved pivotal in my journey.

It was towards the end of my first year at the University of Reading that I decided to venture beyond the academic realm and immerse myself in the industry.

I had a clear vision to pursue a career in Web Development, which led me to reach out to 48 marketing agencies within Berkshire.

Two responded, and one, Jigsaw Design Studio, offered me the gateway to begin my career.

Joining Datto was a significant leap into a broader and somewhat unknown arena. However, any initial apprehensions quickly dissolved on my first day. The warm and genuine welcome from the Managing Director of Datto EMEA (Andrew Stuart), who greeted me by name before we had even formally met, instantly made me feel valued and included.

Datto, at the time, was a beacon of rapid growth and innovation within the technology industry. Despite its substantial size, with over 350 employees when I joined, the company maintained the dynamism and flexibility of a startup. This culture fostered an environment where I could freely explore various roles beyond my initial job description, contributing to diverse projects that spanned across multiple role within the company.

My journey at Datto was characterised by a series of notable projects and roles that allowed me to showcase and expand my skill set.

Among these, taking the lead as Designer for DattoCon17 London stands out as a particularly enriching experience. This project not only challenged me creatively but also honed my project management and strategic planning skills. Projects such as this further solidified my reputation as a versatile and capable "Total Marketeer."

Recognition for my efforts and contributions followed.

The DattoByte Award, a global employee of the month accolade, was a testament to my hard work and dedication to the company's vision and goals. Moreover, in 2019, I was honoured with the "Ace of Innovation" Award for my pioneering work in enhancing visibility between sales and marketing. By creating an API that bridged systems to display upcoming marketing projects to regional sales teams.

My tenure at Datto was a period of intense growth, learning, and achievement. Over six years, I witnessed firsthand the company's evolution from a private entity to a publicly traded company, experiencing multiple acquisitions and a comprehensive rebranding.

The acquisition of Datto by Kaseya for $6.2 billion in the spring of 2022 marked a pivotal moment in my career, opening up new avenues for professional development and leadership within the global digital marketing sphere.

Grandad

The value of grandparents can never really be underestimated.

My grandad was someone who really was a unique breed, a true gentleman and a multi-award-winning stockman.

From a young age, I spent most of my summer holidays up in Manby, Lincolnshire at Grange Farm. My whole family used to chip in and work around the farm doing odd jobs.

What I learned from farming was that it's hard, unforgiving, and you have to make hay while the sun shines.

In the world of digital marketing—no matter how bad a project goes, how stressed I get, or how complex writing a Python script might be—nothing will come close to what my grandad faced. The level of effort, grit, and determination he possessed to achieve what he did inspires me to this day.

Anthony Horowitz

As a child, I was never much of a reader, and it wasn’t until secondary school that I was diagnosed with mild dyslexia.

Like most people with dyslexia, in my early school years I was told to work harder, concentrate more, and focus.

Then I was introduced to the fantastic author, Anthony Horowitz. In fact, the first book I truly read from cover to cover and can honestly say I enjoyed was 'South by South East'.

It was like a lightbulb had gone on!

I went on to read pretty much everything Anthony Horowitz wrote, and I'm still reading his books today, well over 20 years later.

However, it’s rare to meet people you admire, especially famous people, even more so when they live up to the hype. I'm not 100% sure when it was, but I met him at Beaulieu Motor Museum for a book signing.

I’m sure the intention was for a single book to be signed; however, I (apparently) had other ideas. I took the complete life's work of Anthony Horowitz for signing, and he didn’t blink an eye but proceeded to sign them.

To this day, it’s a memory I treasure, and it remains an important reminder to me that the power of words can be life-changing.

Andrew Stuart

There are people in our lives whom you remember the exact moment you met them, whether that's a best friend, a loved one, or, in some cases, a work colleague.

Andrew is...

When writing this, I honestly got that far and hit a wall. Andrew was a work colleague but much more than that. Words can't really describe how much this great man meant to me.

I first met Andrew on my first day at Datto, January 4th, 2016. He was the first person I met at Datto, made me feel welcome, and became part of the team instantly.

He continued to do this for everyone who started; over the years, Andrew helped to develop me as a marketer and improved my knowledge of the wider business. However, the thing that blew me away was his unbelievable level of humanity and interpersonal skills.

Sadly, Andrew passed away in an accident in March 2018, and nothing can ever prepare you for news like that. He was only 34, he was the managing director of Datto Europe and had the world at his feet.

Andrew was an inspiration every day that I worked with him and sadly a cruel reminder that life is short, so it's important to do what you love, with people who bring you joy.

He was a friend and colleague but will forever be an inspiration.