Aura Chan Gonzalez is the Digital Marketing Specialist at AgriWebb, a livestock farm management software, and also the Founder of Go Spanish which provides Spanish conversation events.
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1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?
I am originally from Bogota — Colombia. I did International Relations and Political Science and later on, I developed my digital marketing skills while perusing my entrepreneur soul with Go Spanish.
During the process of setting up my own business, I become very passionate about digital marketing. I have never built a website before and did not have a clue about Google Analytics, Facebook pixel, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) techniques, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), etc.
It was a whole new world for me. I loved it so much that I decided to invest in myself and I did a Digital Marketing course at General Assembly. Right after that, I joined AgriWebb as an intern for 2 months. When I finished they offered me a job as a Digital Marketer.
Currently, I work on a multichannel content marketing structure focusing on organic social media while monitoring trending topics to curate value content to our audience. I also use keyword research to support content, campaigns and SEO techniques to aligned social media strategies with AgriWebb goals, objectives and key results.
2) What does a typical day in the life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?
I am currently working Mon-Tue. Our days at home during the days I work are hectic and locked into routines for our 4-year-old daughter (Elizabeth) and 7-month old baby boy (Gabriel). I have long nights; early starts and I am usually in bed by 10:00 pm if not before that.
On a typical working day I wake up around 6:30 am to feed Gabriel. Then, take a shower – by then my husband has given breakfast to Elizabeth. After breakfast I am off to drop Eli at childcare while my mum looks after Gabriel.
I start work at 9:00 am. The team kick off the week with morning meetings where we find out what other team members are up to for the week. My work life’s happens between Google, Asana and Slack.
Between working hours I feed Gabriel. When I finish work around 5:00 pm. I go to pick up Eli. Then, I come home to get dinner ready.
3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?
Yes, my current role is very flexible and this is very important for our family. Before going on maternity leave I was working three days at the office and one from home.
When I am in the office I leave work a bit earlier. This allows me to pick up Eli on time. I think flexible work spaces are a must in today’s world. It will be very hard for me to be a working mum without a flexible role.
4) Do you have any tips, tricks or shortcuts to help you manage your workload and schedule?
First. I don’t think I will be where I am right now if it was not for my partner in crime. Phil, is a hands-on husband who supports me in a ginormous way. My mum has also been an incredible set of hands.
I have 2 tips to share:
- All my phone notification are off. This works fantastic for me as a marketer. When I am at home; I am at home. This is a time to focus on the family. Everything else can wait until the next day. If it is something urgent people will call you.
- Have a daily list. Sometimes we cannot get everything done in one day and that is totally fine. Having a daily list helps me to prioritise what needs to be done. At the end of the day, I go through each item on the list and highlight what needs to be done first thing in the morning.
5) What does work life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?
Work-life balance means for me having a life where both my personal life and work correlate in a harmonious way. Having a flexible work and embracing quality time as a core value for our family is crucial to archive this. Being able to switch off when you get home and acknowledging that there will always be tomorrow to give continuity to whatever you were working on.
6) What do you think are some of the best habits you’ve developed over the years to help you strive for success and balance?
Be positive, be grateful and never give up.
I am a spiritual person. I like to thank the universe every day for what we have. We are a very happy family and I think when you are happy as a whole everything works. Of course, like every family, we have ups and downs, we are definitely not perfect — actually, no one is, however we try to be as patient as possible and have as much love and compassion for each other.
7) Are there any books that have helped you improve over the years?
I am a bit of a science fiction women. So of course, The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones are some of my favourites.
Career wise I have to read all the time. Things change very quickly in this space. Some of the ones I have read recently are Content That Converts: How to Build a Profitable and Predictable B2B Content Marketing Strategy by Laura Hanly and The New Rules of Marketing and PR by David Meerman.
8) What is the number one thing you do to make sure you get the most out of your day?
I need to have a proper night sleep. This is fundamental to make the most of my days. However, it is kind of hard to archive this with a 7 month old. And, of course, a big cup of coffee will also help.
9) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers.
Well, balance it’s just a way to jiggle things around. So, try to be happy with whatever you do in life and if you can fit into your schedule 15 min of meditation daily, then what are you waiting for? It is life-changing.
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