In an industry as dynamic as marketing, you need resilience to thrive.
It’s the key to adapting to rapid changes, tackling challenges head-on and finding opportunities in the unexpected.
Our exceptional Monash alumna, Natalie Drucker, Global Head of Digital Strategy, Analytics and Insights – GTM Operations at Thoughtworks, exemplifies this trait in spades.
Discover how resilience fuelled Natalie’s rise to success, helping her navigate adversity and embrace innovation. Her story could just be your next breakthrough.
Natalie, can you tell us how resilience contributes to long-term career satisfaction?
In business, the only constant is change.
Thoughtworks is completely different culturally in 2023 from when I joined in 2011. It was sold to a PE firm and then went public. It expanded from under 1,000 employees to over 12,000. We’ve gone through good times, recessions and significant technological shifts in the market. Just to name a few changes!
What kept us going – and thriving – through all this? Our resilient mindsets, innovative problem-solving and unwavering commitment to evolving in a rapidly changing landscape.
How has resilience benefited your career in marketing?
As an international student, I had to harness and draw on my resilience even to get my career off the ground. Because despite being in the top 3% of my course, I wasn’t eligible for most leading graduate programs without a Permanent Residence permit.
So I contacted a graduate recruitment agency looking for a career in fashion. Instead, I was approached by Thoughtworks, a B2B tech company.
Being so far from my dream job, my initial reaction was to reject the opportunity. But drawing confidence from my father’s prosperous career in B2B tech, I decided to give Thoughtworks a chance. Lo and behold, I got the job.
At the time, Thoughtworks was a scaleup with less than 1,000 global employees – and infinite opportunities. I was promoted to Head of Marketing in Australia in 1 year and 4 months, I relocated to the UK, and now, 12 years later, I’m the Global Head of Digital Strategy, Analytics & Insights – GTM Operations.
Safe to say, it’s very different to what I thought my career would be. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Any advice for students trying to build their resilience?
Be open-minded. You might have the perfect picture of the company, role and career path you want, just like I did. But remember, bumps in that ideal pathway may be signs to open your eyes to greater opportunities.
The world around us continues to change. New careers are always emerging (mine certainly didn’t exist when I graduated!). So use your resilience to welcome uncertainty and change. You never know what could come your way as a result.
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