A day in the life: Michael Head of Demand Gen

What inspired you to join heyData, and how has your role evolved since you started? 

From the very beginning, I was thrilled about the task, the topic, and everyone involved. It's truly special to pick up a motivated team exactly where they are and work together to tackle and successfully implement the next crucial steps to grow. And the fact that I'm also a bit of a nerd who has been kind of passionate about privacy and technology made this opportunity even more exciting. Over time, I've gained a wealth of knowledge about the topic. I've learned to comprehend the challenges faced by other departments and have developed cross-functional skills.

What would surprise us most about your job if we followed you around for a day? 

It never ceases to amaze me how adaptable you must be with your planning and that constant learning is key. If I knew exactly what to expect throughout the day, it would only be half as thrilling. Fortunately, each day brings a unique blend of familiar routines and unexpected surprises. Beyond the daily grind of appointments, ever-shifting tasks, deadlines, and occasional hands-on encounters, I find immense joy and reward in the extraordinary achievements that our team brings to life. For me, the greatest accomplishment is finding the right balance each day – and savoring the perfect amount of coffee.

How do you stay connected with your team, especially in a hybrid or remote setup? 

Here too, the ideal balance is the objective: allowing personal interactions and activities in the office on certain days while simultaneously utilizing the tranquility at home for focused work. This approach works exceptionally well when everyone adheres to specific agreements, regular team meetings are held, and topics are prioritized, prepared, and documented with reasonable care. Furthermore, such a setup can only truly succeed if open communication is genuinely practiced and maintained. Being accessible online and utilizing digital tools should be second nature. 

What’s the most rewarding project you’ve worked on at heyData?

I'm delighted that the team has successfully initiated and implemented numerous projects that have yielded positive results. Onboarding, in particular, posed significant challenges as we had to grasp the existing approaches and optimize them to align with our marketing objectives. Starting a business from scratch is a completely different experience than setting the right course and developing a well-thought-out marketing plan during its growth phase. What truly makes the entire experience so rewarding, beyond the occasional small successes, is the overwhelmingly positive feedback from satisfied customers.

When you need to clear your mind, how do you recharge during the workday?

The most effective way for me to unwind and recharge my energy levels is by engaging in physical activities like sports, running, and immersing myself in enjoyable music. Without music, nothing seems to work for me.

In the past, a reliable note-taking tool was sufficient for me to organize and prioritize my ideas and thoughts. Today, I'm delighted that Perplexity continues to offer insightful ideas even when you're at your wit's end and in need of solutions that you haven't yet mastered. I can now conduct research, program, or hold an entire brainstorming session in just a few minutes.

What are you most excited about in your future at heyData? 

heyData, among the many other start-ups I've had the pleasure of getting to know and supporting, stands out as one of the few that has successfully executed its idea, achieved a precise product-market fit, and is experiencing continuous growth. It's an incredible feeling to accompany the next growth steps and contribute a small part to this success.