What makes IT marketing special - interview with Inga
"It's fun to be a part of it and to help shape the digital future."
04. Oct 2023 | 3 min.
"It's fun to be a part of it and to help shape the digital future."
04. Oct 2023 | 3 min.
Hello Inga! Please introduce yourself briefly. Who are you, what do you do at avodaq and how do you like to spend your free time?
I’m Inga, 37 years old, born in Bielefeld, grew up in a small town in Ostwestfalen-Lippe and have been living in Hamburg for over seven years. I still enjoy going to my home town to visit family and friends, but I now feel at home in the beautiful Hanseatic city of Hamburg. In my free time, I enjoy exploring the diversity of Hamburg, especially by bike. I love trying out bars and restaurants, finding new favourite places or just enjoying the end of the day at the Alster lake. So it made sense to move my professional base to Hamburg in 2022.
And fortunately, that led you to us… 😊
Exactly! I have been Head of Marketing at avodaq since January 2022. Together with my team, we are responsible for external and internal communications, operational and strategic marketing and the implementation of all marketing activities. Which, by the way, includes this blog.
Where did your interest in IT come from?
I basically grew up with IT. A large part of my family works in the IT sector. So, I was able to get to know and appreciate the variety of opportunities, the exciting people and the great working atmosphere in IT companies at an early age. My strengths at school were mainly in maths. At the same time, I was very interested in people and communication. Marketing and IT give me the perfect opportunity to combine my interests and strengths.
What makes marketing for IT companies special for you?
The IT industry is evolving rapidly and the opportunities and challenges are incredibly diverse. In the past, marketing in IT companies was very traditional, often focused on events and PR activities. However, the rapid growth and increased competition in the market has forced companies to go new ways in marketing and sales. For marketing managers in particular, this is a great opportunity to take on responsibility, enjoy creative freedom and actively shape the company’s development. I think that’s really exciting!
„[It] is a great opportunity to take on responsibility, enjoy creative freedom and actively shape the company's development. I think that's really exciting!“
Inga Vogel
Many people think of IT marketing as highly technical and boring. Yes, we are a B2B (business-to-business) business and we market products that require a lot of explanation, but at the end of the day we just want to inspire people. And that’s actually what makes it so interesting: turning our highly complex processes and products into simple, understandable stories. It doesn’t really matter whether we’re selling chocolate bars or IT services – in the end a person buys it.
And best of all, in IT we work with great people! They love challenges, innovative solutions and want to shape the future together.
The IT industry is rather male-dominated. What is that like for you as a woman, especially in a leadership position? Is that an issue for you?
The fact that there are more men in IT is definitely something that cannot be ignored. There are still too few women choosing a career in IT. But it is changing, and the necessary openness is definitely there.
For me, I decided at the beginning of my career not to worry so much about the percentage of women and gender stereotypes, to simply to follow my own path. But I have to say that, fortunately, I had little to no negative experiences.
For me personally, it didn’t and still doesn’t matter whether I’m sitting across from ten men or ten women. It is even more important for me to always be authentic and to be myself, rather than trying to fit in. I would not support recommendations such as adopting the “typical behaviour” of the opposite sex in order to appear more confident or to be more successful at work. I would like to encourage women in IT. There is so much going on. It’s simply fun to be a part of it and to help shape the digital future.
What is particularly important to you in your job? What excites you about working at avodaq?
The most important thing for me is having people around me. I enjoy the daily interaction with colleagues, external partners and customers a lot. And my team is important to me. I am passionate about what I do and I enjoy sharing that passion with my colleagues. What motivates me most is seeing the team having fun and growing. That’s why I love being a manager. It is both challenging and motivating at the same time.
Is there a moment at avodaq that brings a smile to your face and that you will always remember?
One moment that I will probably always remember was at the all avodaq day 2022 (editor’s note: an annual employee event, where everyone comes together live). Together with all our colleagues, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of avodaq in Turkey. Although I had only been part of the team for five months, I had the opportunity to host the event.
After an exciting period of planning, it was a great feeling to stand on stage with a colleague on the first morning and welcome everyone to the event. Despite the long nights, the mood in the mornings was always good and it was fun guiding people through the days.
A happy and open team spirit makes all the difference and the work much easier.
Inga, a very nice closing! Thank you very much for the open conversation. We look forward to spending more time with you.