Stephen Mogotlane is a Marketing Assistant at CloudSmiths, a Dynamic Technologies group company. In this role, he assists with ongoing marketing campaigns by collecting audience feedback, creating graphs, charts, and slides to present to decision-makers, and conducts market research to understand the target audience.
Stephen’s journey is an inspiring one. He started his career with CloudSmiths (then DotModus) as an intern and has worked his way up to his current position. He says, “I have always been interested in inventing things. At school, my goal was to make a difference using technology and innovation. I applied to Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and went on to study Information, Communication and Technology. I was advised to specialise in Intelligent Industrial Systems (IIS), which deals mainly with robotics. I failed almost all my modules that year, so the following year I moved to a Multimedia specialisation and discovered my passion and purpose. I began assisting other students and found an interest in web development, media production and graphic design.
“I distributed pamphlets, worked as a graphic designer contractor, and also did some freelancing. Eventually I was awarded a bursary by DVT. Upon completion of my studies, I contacted the company and asked if there were any vacancies for interns. Days later I was contacted by the DotModus HR department. I went through the interview process and started as an intern in January 2022. I would tell anyone looking to follow in my steps that the secret is to always give your best to any task you are given, and to show an interest in learning new things.”
Stephen adds, “As a marketing assistant, one of my biggest challenges initially was keeping up with the volume of work. It was difficult to adapt but I worked on my organisational and time management skills. I also reached out for help from my seniors, who helped me focus on the tasks at hand and execute them well.” Stephen has found himself inspired by his manager, CloudSmiths Head of Marketing Patrick Eriksen. He explains, “He always works hard, he finishes every task that he starts, and he truly enjoys his work.”
Stephen’s goal is to continue moving up within the company. He says, “I studied ICT under Multimedia which helped me to develop a passion for my current role. It is one in which I believe I can work hard and gain the experience that I need to take on mid- and upper-level roles in the future.”
In the midst of his personal and professional triumphs, Stephen remains driven by results. “I'm most proud of the latest spreadsheet automate that I developed and launched with my current team,” he says. “It was designed to help the recruitment team easily manage some of their day-to-day work. This particular experience has helped me to truly appreciate the value of teamwork.” Not one to take things for granted, he adds, “I am also proud that I am trusted with some of our social media content.”
A motivated individual, Stephen has several long-term goals. “I hope to advance within this role and continue to learn and grow in the industry. Most importantly, I wish to make a positive impact in this organisation by bringing in new ideas that will be of benefit to my colleagues, my team, and the company.”
His advice for those looking to make a big career change is simple and sincere. “Identify your goals and make sure they align with your skills, proficiencies, or passion. Most importantly, you need to understand SWOT – strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis – as this will help you grow and develop your career.”
This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place.
Habakkuk 2:3 New Living Translation