Natalie Athanasiadis

Can you tell us about your time at Deakin? Is there anything you especially remember?
I was enrolled in my studies Off-Campus so all of my work was completed and submitted online. Despite not seeing anyone in person I still felt incredibly connected to other students and my lecturers. The team at Deakin were able to provide a very collaborative and immersive study environment that was also flexible so I could schedule my studies as they suited me best.

What has been your journey since finishing your course? Briefly outline your career path prior to your current role.
During my course I worked on gaining field experience in the digital PR, marketing and strategy scene. One week after graduation I was offered a position at one of the bigger and long standing digital marketing agencies in Sydney where I moved my way up the ranks quickly. In July of 2017 I launched my own full service digital marketing agency which became a multiple six figure business within 5 weeks and is operated fully remotely. In a short time we had already achieved incredible success servicing everyone from small local businesses to multi-million dollar enterprises around the world.

What has been the biggest influence on your career?
I believe the foundation of knowledge I acquired throughout my studies at Deakin pushed me into a direction that I may not have explored on my own. That has been incredibly influential and beneficial to me. My love for constantly learning really blossomed from my time at Deakin and this has allowed me to connect with so many entrepreneurs who have also an incredible impact on my career.

Have you always wanted to pursue the kind of career you have embarked on? If so, when and how did you realise?
I was in the second year of my degree when I was engaging in more digital focused public relations units. That’s when I knew that I really wanted to explore digital PR and marketing further. I saw a very strong focus on digital for businesses in the future and knew that it was the right move for me.

What advice would you give graduates wanting to pursue a similar profession?
The digital and search engine marketing industry moves at an incredibly fast pace so it’s really important that you consistently work on staying at the top of your game. Work to land opportunities that are going to give you the most wealth in terms of education and focus on that more than the financial benefits or better sounding titles. From there the sky is the limit, but build a solid foundation of knowledge and experience first because then the better opportunities come.

What do you believe Deakin University has shown you/given you as a person?
The knowledge I gained in public relations best practices and the skills I built through my studies helped me stand out in my roles after graduating and were an integral part in the creation of the unique fusion of services I offer my clients. In addition to this, the organisational skills I gained from completing my studies off-campus made launching and running a fully remote business a breeze.

What are your passions outside your work?
Animal rescue is one cause that is really important to me. As humans we have the power and responsibility to make life better for innocent beings who are not able to defend themselves.

How would someone describe you?
Enthusiastic, honest, driven, hard-working and reliable.

What’s your favourite website?
I love YouTube! It is full of people sharing their knowledge and insights on so many topics. It’s important to keep learning throughout your life and there are some great resources and people you can connect with on this platform.

What’s your least favourite word?
The word ‘can’t’ when it relates to people talking about themselves. For example ‘Oh I can’t do that, I’m not smart enough’ or ‘I can’t achieve the same as that person because they know all the right people’. This word holds so many people back from achieving incredible things!

What is something that amazes you?
I am always amazed and inspired by people who display resilience in difficult circumstances.