1. Understanding Marketing Language 

Have you ever traveled to another country and found the language barrier a challenge for even the simplest things like asking where the bathroom is or what time the bus is coming? The same can be said of the digital marketing world – it is like being in a foreign country if you do not understand the language. As a student new to digital marketing I was naive to think I would be capable of quickly understanding and engaging in the dialogue of my instructors and classmates – it is just marketing-speak, right, how hard can it be? Much to my dismay (and with a subtle hit to my ego) the pre-class chatter seemed almost completely foreign to me with acronyms such as: PPC, CTR, CPC, MQL, and SQL being used as casually as LOL or even hello – I was a bit lost. This brief scare was resolved when class started and we began by deciphering this new language of acronyms and how they related to digital marketing. The instructors understood that this was going to be a barrier for most (if not all) of us in the class and made sure to tackle it right off the bat. 

2. Accelerated Learning and Time to Impact with GreenFig Programs 

As I progressed through the GreenFig program I realized that there is no equivalent to a medical board, CFA qualification, or the bar exam for marketing. Most of the top people in marketing do not even have a marketing degree. This is why the creation of application software certifications has become the cornerstone to a marketer’s credentials and a sure-fire resume builder. During the GreenFig program we were taught how to navigate through these certifications and were prepared to communicate, and effectively implement their uses. 

3. Learning the Ropes of PPC and Then Applying It 

Two years ago I started my journey as a digital marketer. Since then I have been continuously learning and growing to stay relevant. With a strong basis in PPC (Pay-Per-Click) I boldly stepped into a summer job working at G5, a company that specializes in digital marketing for real estate companies, where I worked on a PPC team working in Google AdWords and Google Analytics. I took my initial knowledge of the platforms and processes and then shot for the stars, and it worked. I was able to communicate effectively with my team in this new language I had recently learned and set goals for each week. I grew in this experience by using what I knew and then building off it to deliver effective PPC campaigns. 

4. Making an Impact in the Workforce as a Business Scientist 

Above all, GreenFig helped prepare me to enter into a role in digital marketing. Through my direct communication with instructors and collaboration with classmates, I gained an understanding of the marketer’s environment – the language, the business application software, time and project management skills – which prepared me for my career as a business scientist. I look back at my first class with GreenFig and think about how unprepared I was but now see how even with my limited knowledge of the digital marketing language or my inexperience with the required certifications this space demands, I was still able to learn and excel in this field. And that is how GreenFig turned me into a Business Scientist. 

Keenan O’Hern 

GreenFig Graduate Class of 2015