Kiran Suryanarayana speaks to industry professionals and former CMA award winners about their professional journey
Hiba Okba – Digital Marketing and Communications Manager, ROCKWOOL UK
Hiba Okba, centre, celebrating with colleagues at the 2021 CMAs after being awarded Young Marketer of the Year
What do you do?
I’m the digital marketing and communications manager at ROCKWOOL UK (& Ireland). My role involves collaborating with a diverse group of local and global players to develop and deliver integrated strategic marketing plans to support business growth across key segments.
How did you land the job?
I started as a marketing assistant seven years ago shortly after graduating from the University of Westminster, where I studied business management and marketing. Throughout these years, I worked my way up the career ladder, gaining invaluable experience at various levels of marketing and working on exciting projects. A pivotal factor in my career growth has been the unwavering support and belief in my abilities from my current manager. His trust and encouragement allowed me to showcase my capabilities and excel in my role. This experience underscores the importance of not only possessing the passion, knowledge, and skills required for success but also being surrounded by people who believe in you and provide the support needed to achieve your dreams and fulfil your true potential.
What’s the best thing about your job?
The opportunity to collaborate with a diverse team of talented individuals to develop and execute integrated strategic marketing plans that make a significant impact on the company’s growth and brand perception. Witnessing the positive outcomes of our efforts and seeing our campaigns resonate with our target audience is incredibly fulfilling and reinforces my passion for marketing.
What was one of the biggest turning points in your career?
This occurred during the pandemic when the entire workforce transitioned to remote work, including our marketing team. The sudden shift forced us to reimagine our marketing strategies and find innovative ways to remain relevant in a rapidly changing landscape. With physical events, trade shows, and in-person interactions on hold, we had to pivot quickly and embrace digital marketing wholeheartedly. This unprecedented situation challenged us to think creatively and adapt swiftly. We leveraged various digital channels, such as social media, email marketing, webinars, and our virtual experience – ROCKWOOL 360, to maintain our brand presence and engage with our target audience.
As we navigated this transformative period, we learned valuable lessons about the agility and adaptability needed to succeed in the ever-changing marketing landscape. Embracing digital marketing not only proved effective during the pandemic but also laid a foundation for future strategies that integrate both online and offline initiatives. This turning point in my career taught me the importance of staying proactive, embracing change, and continuously exploring new ways to enhance our marketing efforts. Most importantly, it highlighted the power of teamwork and the ability to overcome challenges collectively. As a result, I emerged from this experience with a newfound sense of confidence and adaptability, ready to tackle any future obstacles that may come our way.
What did winning the CMA awards mean to you and to the agency?
Winning the CMA ‘Young Marketer of the Year’ award was an exceptionally humbling and validating experience. It went beyond being just a personal achievement; it was a recognition of the collective hard work and dedication put in by my colleagues at ROCKWOOL UK. Their unwavering support and collaborative efforts played a crucial role in my success, and I was immensely proud to share this acknowledgement with them. What made that night even more amazing was ROCKWOOL receiving a highly commended award for ‘Best use of events and live marketing’ as well as winning the ‘Best use of website’ award. The awards brought a wave of pride and enthusiasm to the entire marketing department, acting as a powerful morale booster. It was truly a night I will never forget.
What’s your next challenge?
I am currently undergoing passive fire protection training offered by the ASFP. This training is a crucial step in ensuring that our marketing efforts at ROCKWOOL UK and Ireland are not only effective but also conducted with the utmost integrity and competence. Through this additional training and dedication to marketing integrity, I am confident that we can further solidify ROCKWOOL’s reputation as a trusted and responsible provider of fire protection solutions. As we move forward with our exciting new projects, our focus on knowledge, integrity, and competence will continue to be at the core of our marketing strategy.
