The New Boy on the Block - An Insider's Guide

As I have recently come on board at Apex, I thought it would be a good idea to practice what we preach, provide an insight into the Apex Company from a newbie perspective, and actually write something about what I’ve been hired to oversee.

I was lucky enough to have done some project work for Apex at the beginning of 2014, so wasn’t walking into the newly acquired role with my eyes firmly shut. I knew from experience that I was about to work with a bunch of professionals, who knew their stuff, worked like trojans and were strong client advocates.

Finding my feet

Feeling like the new boy on the block is an understatement. Though having experience in developing online and elearning solutions and a robust understanding of project management, I don’t think I was actually aware of how much technology has changed in the short period of time that I ventured in and out of the world of managing a cleaning contract for the local council.

As with any new role, there has been a significant and steep learning curve – not just in relation to company operations, processes and company dynamics, but also in respect to a recent shift in how Apex are managing projects, a change that stemmed from a company desire for fluidity and improvement. Ever continuous training, remaining in front of the competition and a desire to stand at the edge of industry developments and news are all part of Apex’s values, all of which contribute to our continued growth towards excellence. 

The Apex experience

After my initial encounter with Apex, I knew that working at Apex would be a positive and rewarding experience and eagerly accepted the position when it was offered to me. Apex is hugely customer-centric, is unmovable in its core ethics and morals that align to its development and SEO undertakings, and creates an empowering environment that makes you want to push yourself that little bit further each time. No question is silly, no idea is scrapped (though shelved occasionally) and the think tank strives for perfection.

It’s not simple to pin-point what makes Apex different from other working environments; there is just a multitude of factors that feed into this! It may have something to do with the relaxed yet professional atmosphere; the skillset around the office being ever expansive and complimentary; or possibly the expectation of each employee to take ownership of their role and their clients. I think what makes it different from most is the open communication from above, clarity that is provided across the board and the expectations to lead from the front – from within the team and within the industry. 

My roles in a nutshell

Being brought into the team as a Project Manager and Content Strategist is a somewhat daunting but exciting role. With the role it’s important to be able to instil confidence in the client that we know what we are talking about; there’s an element of sales, and of course I get to support the sales team with their daily communications.

I simplistically look at the project management aspect of the role as ensuring “right resources, right place, right time, within budget and top quality”. A pretty rugged description but encompassing enough. When I think about project management, I think organisation, communication, fairness, equity, and a pinch of common sense. But what I think is often missed is the notion of respect. Respect for the client, respect for the team members carrying out the work and respect for the process. From what I have seen to date at Apex, this is at the forefront of its current dealings and is exhilarating.

The Content Strategist role is somewhat exciting and liberating. Almost a science of what to say, how to say, and when to say something through an online medium. It provides the avenue to let the creative aspect of the mind come to the fore, all while educating the user on a particular topic or feature. Part educationalist, part wordsmith, part ‘talking to your best friend’. It’s a multi-faceted role but one that can provide extreme value to a client and ensure that their online marketing functions are as beneficial to the bottom line as they can be.

The near future

What is evident and daunting is that I have some huge shoes to fill, taking over from the new mum-to-be, and being 6’3 you’d think that this would be easy! Unfortunately much like her peers, there is no comparison to the talent that David and Karyn have secured (and Kudos to them!), which awkwardly leaves me in the boat that I’m going to be compared to perfection for the next fifteen months.

The one thing I am sure of is that the Apex environment is one that I will continue to grow within and mature. Surrounded by experts in their fields, I have already begun the gleaming process of extracting as much information and knowledge from them as humanly possible. With their expertise and knowledge, and my tenacity I look forward to continuing to grow the Apex and Limelight reputations and continuing on providing the service quality that you have come to expect from these entities.