Victoria Maiwald
Tammy Schlemmer
author
1234
10 questions interview
with Victoria Maiwald
Victoria, thank you so much for answering 10 questions about yourself.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to introduce myself.
Your name is Victoria Maiwald, you are 29 years old and live and work in London.
That's right. London is great. I can't no longer imagine, not being rooted here.
Well, I've already noted down the 10 questions to you in advance. Questions about your answers are of course possible.
Alright, let's start.
1. Victoria, what exactly are you doing for work?
I am a Project Manager in Marketing Communications, at a large UK food company. I can not tell the name, because of advertising reasons, but I am sure you all have heard of us and certainly used some of our products already.
Could you explain the term Marketing Communications? What are your tasks?
My team and I are responsible for establishing new products or product lines, to promote them successfully, so that they are well accepted. This means that we consider and develop the entire advertising strategy. We decide how and with what slogan to advertise. Depending on the product, this can be quite different. Radio, cinema, television, online, print media, material for the shops, outdoor advertising, i.e. posters and billboards, product tastings in our shops, street marketing, etc. The individual advertising departments, such as store marketing or the online marketing team, then create the actual advertising based on our strategy. In this way, we ensure that the different types of advertising fit together and have a recognition value.
That sounds incredibly exciting.
2. What do you like most about your job?
My colleagues and I work closely together with research and development. Often we are the first to test a product or try a new variety. If we like it, it's up to us to breathe life into the product. Here we can be very creative and sometimes a little crazy. It's exciting to see how your little idea becomes a nationwide media campaign.
3. You studied Marketing & Communication at the Royal Business College of London. Why did you choose this course?
At the age of about 9 years, I sold homemade cookies, together with my classmates as part of a school action. We tried to improve the budget for our school-trip. I remember, that our action lasted several weeks. The more we advertised with signs, to drew attention to ourselves or even printed advertisements in the school newspaper, the sooner the biscuits were sold. Of course it helped us, that the biscuits tasted good to the students and that the word spread. I was fascinated by the principle and never really let go of it. Over the years, it became a big dream to study marketing at a renowned faculty. Since I had already come to England three years before my studies, it was an easy decision to study here. It was important to me, that my studies should not only be based on the basic principles, but also focus on new media. The studies at the Royal were a perfect match for my ideas and fortunately my place at the university worked out well.
4. It was mentioned by you earlier, you are originally from Germany.
Yes, that's true.
How and why did you end up here in Great Britain?
After my A-Levels, I wanted to spend some time abroad. Besides the practical use of my foreign language skills, I wanted to get to know the real life in another country. So I decided quite quickly, that I wanted to work as an au pair. In the end, I chose a family in the South of England and I never regretted this decision since. The three years have broadened my horizons and have had a big impact on me. It's really a unique experience to get out of your own comfort zone and move to a foreign country, to foreign people. Certainly not always easy, but a great opportunity. I have built a life over here. I found friends and family. Therefore it was quite obvious to stay here.
Didn't you feel homesick?
Of course. When the first excitement about the new life had subsided and everyday life, with a small child, began, I longed for my quiet and carefree student life. There were days, when I called Germany several times.
When I returned to Great Britain after my first Christmas holiday, it was also a very difficult time. But fortunately, I already had many friends here, who helped me to cope with homesickness.
5. Do you still have lot's of contact with family and friends in Germany?
No. My family in Germany consisted only of my grandmother. Unfortunately she died during my studies. I have no more contact with any friends from that time.
During my research I read, that you interrupted your studies.
Yes, that's true. Shortly before the end of my studies my grandmother's health deteriorated and I had to take a break.
For a long time I didn't know if I could finish my studies.
When I finally returned to London, everything cleared up and I was able to graduate.
That certainly wasn't an easy time.
6. What do you think others can learn from your career?
Surely there are other people, whose careers are much more interesting than mine. Those who have achieved more in less time.
But something I have learned in the last years is, that things never happen the way we imagine them. Again and again we have to face challenges. Some will demand everything from us, almost break us. It is important that you never lose sight of your goals. It is said, that many roads lead to Rome. That's exactly what I experienced. Again and again, during my studies and afterwards, I came across those challenges. Things that threw me off course. I always had to find the way back. I had to give up people and dreams. In the end, all these detours were my way. And today I stand, where I always wanted to be. Never lose sight of your goals. If something stands in your way, then look for a way around it. Learn from your mistakes and try again. Never give up.
That is indeed a valuable lesson. Thank you for that insight, Victoria.
7. Where do you get your motivation or inspiration from?
I find inspiration everywhere in everyday life. Often it is the little things that inspire creativity. A shape, a sentence, a piece of clothing or just a view. An idea emerges and with the help of others it develops into the right direction.
Motivation, on the other hand, I only find through other people. My friends and of course my partner. In those, who are important to me. Those who support me and also correct me from time to time. They are the ones who bring me joy and motivation every day.
Let's move on to the last three questions of the interview.
8. If you could swap lifes fore one week, with any person in this world, who would you choose and why?
Wow, that's a very good question. There are many people I would like to spend time with, but swapping is tricky. Probably I would want to swap with the 5 year old daughter of a colleague. Living the carefree life of a child. The biggest challenge would be, to get to the cookie box in the kitchen unnoticed.
A very good choice. Who doesn't want to go back to childhood now and then.
9. What is your philosophy of life?
My grandmother used to say, "Vicky, you are a fighter and fighters always achieve their goals! This sentence has become a kind of mantra for me.
10. Our last question, which fits very well to your mantra. What do you think is the one thing, worth most fighting for?
I think everyone here will have a different answer. For me it's my partner and my best friends. I would give up everything else for these three people.
Thank you very much Victoria, for the interview.
Thank you for inviting me today.
London, January 2019