Kei Kitamura.
In this series, AdNews spotlights young talent in the Australian media, marketing and advertising sector. This time it's EDGE's digital marketing specialist Kei Kitamura.
Time in current role/time at the company
I have been working at EDGE for just over a year now in my role as a digital marketing specialist.
How long have you been in the industry?
I have been in the industry for almost three years, having started right after graduating from university in late 2023.
How did you get here?
Born and raised in Japan, I came to Australia at 15 without knowing any English. Life quickly took off from there. I finished high school on the Sunshine Coast and stayed on for university, graduating from QUT in Brisbane with a Bachelor of Business majoring in Marketing. That brought me down to the Gold Coast for my first full-time role in SEO, where I have been growing my career ever since.
Was this always the plan?
No, it wasn't! During uni, I pictured myself in social media marketing after spending my internship working on paid ads and social campaigns. I didn't know much about SEO back then, but now I get to learn something new every day while helping our clients grow through improved search visibility, leading to more web traffic, lead generation and ultimately increased sales!
Who is your right-hand person/who guides you day to day?
Everyone in my department is always very helpful and supportive of my SEO journey, but particularly Luke, our Strategy Director. He has really opened new avenues for me, especially with my communication and presentation skills.
What’s the best thing about the industry you work in?
There is always something new to learn. For example, when Google released new features such as AI Overview, we quickly needed to learn everything about it so we could be informed and adjust our client’s strategies accordingly. It's not just about Google, seeing how other LLMs (Chat GPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity...) are evolving and how SEO sits right at the centre of this trend is also exciting. Digital Marketing is moving at the speed of light and to be a specialist in this area you need to move at pace as well.
And the biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge is, again, AI strategy. How adaptable we need to be and how much we need to expand our strategic scope is challenging, but also very exciting.
Whose job have you set your sights on in the future?
A senior role is where I am headed next! :)
Where do you turn for inspiration?
I love getting inspiration from moving my body, so the gym, BJJ, and surfing make up my current routine. I feel like that's very typical for the Gold Coast and is also a good reason why I love living here! I also love to cook, so every Saturday you can find me at the local farmers' market.
Tell us one thing people at work don’t know about you?
During COVID, I went to a sushi cookery school and learnt how to make sushi. I love cooking and learning the craft of sushi was such an exciting experience.
In five years' time I'll be:
Living on a boat, travelling around the world, surfing, and eating fresh sashimi….you’ve got to dream don’t you!
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