Meagan Campbell

When did you realize you wanted to work in STEM or Skilled Trades?

"I had a really hard time figuring out what I wanted my education and career path to look like. I've always been interested in so many different things! Originally, I did start university as a science student (and later spent a couple of years as a commerce student). But ultimately I ended up with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature—which is not exactly what people picture when they think about working in STEM. During my education, I also focused on gaining marketing skills through jobs, professional development training, and extra-curricular activities. My first full-time job after graduation was with a marketing agency, working as a copywriter for a wide variety of campaigns and clients. I spent a few years really just exploring career options and trying to figure out what I wanted to do next. At some point, I started looking into tech and SaaS. The more I learned and thought about it, the more I realized that software was bursting with all kinds of opportunities. So although I'm a marketer and not a technical professional, I realized I wanted to work in tech marketing specifically. I started my first role as a tech marketer in early 2020, then at the beginning of 2021 I joined the team at CoLab... and I haven't looked back since!"

What is an app on your smart phone that you couldn’t live without?

Google Tasks. I have ADHD, so organizing and managing my work is an extra big challenge for me. I've tried almost every single task management or productivity app out there, but a few years ago I decided to go all-in on the Google ecosystem. I already preferred using Gmail for email and Google Cal for my schedule, and I love how tightly integrated Google Tasks is with my other essential tools. I have a widget on my phone's home screen so that my urgent tasks don't get "out of sight, out of mind," but it's also seamless for me to hop on my desktop and make changes to tasks right from my calendar or email inbox. I also find it has the perfect level of simplicity: quick and easy to use because it's not overly complicated, and flexible and customizable without being TOO open-ended.

What advice would you give students who might be considering a career like yours? What advice would you have given your younger self?

"When I was in my last year of university, the specific job I have right now (five years later) did not exist. There were certainly content marketers at that time, and there were tech companies with content marketers employed there—but I work for a startup that was founded just shortly after I finished my degree. I'm sure that 5 years from now, or 10 years from now, there will be openings for job titles that don't exist at all yet. I never could've truly *planned* to end up where I am in my career. Originally, I was going to be a pharmacist. And while there are indeed different career paths within pharmacy, there's still a crystal clear, step-by-step career path to go from high school --> to pharmacist. But one of the best things I ever did for my career and for myself... was to let go of the idea that I needed to have every single step mapped out. Instead, I focused more on following my strengths and interests—which also meant I needed to spend time getting to know myself better, so I could figure out what those strengths and interests really were. And those things do change over time! But if you'd asked me a few years ago if I thought I'd be working for a tech company that makes software for mechanical engineers? I wouldn't've thought it was possible. Looking back now, I can see all the little steps that brought me to this point. So I guess my advice is to focus more on the little steps right in front of you than to stress or worry about exactly where they're going to lead. There's a lot of pressure to ""have a plan,"" yet we live in a world that changes constantly and quickly. It's good to look into the future and to learn about the possibilities ahead of you! But I've had a lot of career success—both in terms of the results and how I felt along the way to get there—by reeling myself in and keeping a laser focus on what I'm doing NOW instead of what comes AFTER it."