In this episode of South Africa Tech Marketers, we sit down with Gila Shapiro, Product Marketing Manager at Riverside FM, to explore her unconventional journey from drama student to global tech marketing. With experience at three international companies, Gila shares candid insights about breaking into remote work, leveraging South African strengths, and building a successful global marketing career.
Topics Discussed:
- Transitioning from traditional advertising to global tech marketing
- Breaking into international remote work opportunities
- The unique advantages South African marketers bring to global companies
- Balancing remote work with family life
- Product marketing and creative strategy at Riverside
- The importance of testing and data-driven marketing decisions
- Different career paths within marketing
Key Insights for South African Marketers:
- Put yourself out there: “Send your CV, make the calls, reach out on LinkedIn… What’s the worst that happens?”
- Leverage South African resilience: “We have had to figure out how to have a meeting when we don’t have internet because of load shedding… We have a work ethic that I don’t think is bound to everywhere else in the world.”
- Embrace your unique perspective: “The world is already too full of people who are trying to blend in… Being South African being yourself, you have a lot to offer these companies.”
- Don’t limit yourself: Marketing goes beyond traditional advertising – from UX writing to product marketing, brand storytelling, and SEO
- Embrace failure: “Not only not be afraid to fail, like you must fail… Everyone’s feeling the imposter syndrome, everyone’s feeling like they are the new kid in the cafeteria.”
