Today, Digital and Marketing Manager Kimiko Williams is a certified digital marketing professional (CDMP) whose career path took an unexpected turn when she recognised and accepted opportunities for advancement in the digital sphere.

Williams recounts being excited about pursuing a career in accounting. Interestingly, in her second year at the University of Technology, Jamaica, on the verge of choosing her major, Williams got the opportunity as an assurance intern at PricewaterhouseCoopers, which she recounts as an enriching experience during which she gained practical knowledge of auditing and accounting. However, after the internship, she intuitively knew that she wanted to chart a different path, which ultimately led her to pursue a career at the intersection of creativity, strategy and technology.

With this realisation, Williams secured an innovation internship at NCB, which broadened her scope by exposing her to agile and design thinking, stakeholder analysis approaches, storytelling, customer persona mapping, and agile project management.

Williams recounts that she was fortunate to work with Stacey Hines, an executive of the ICD Group and former President of the Jamaica Technology and Digital Alliance, as a digital marketing intern managing the back end of a digital product. It was an opportunity to learn and leverage platforms such as Active Campaign CRM and ClickFunnels. Though the platforms were new to her, Williams disclosed that she grasped the nuances of these platforms thanks to the “University of YouTube”.

For Williams, her internships were among the most defining experiences of her life because they were instrumental in her journey of self-discovery while teaching her the core of what it means to be a true leader. These early experiences also served as a natural progression in the digital space and boosted her new-found passion for marketing. This combination led her to start her career as a social media manager and copy writer for international clients, including that of a chief people officer of Zoom.

There is a synergy between what Williams values and the vision of the JTDA; hence she recalls enthusiastically accepting the opportunity to support the brand’s marketing function, where she continuously learns and grows. Keen on serving in the social impact and digital space, Williams is proud to be supporting the tech community in her capacity through initiatives such as the ongoing My Membership Matters campaign, which focuses on increasing the brand’s membership and engagement. She also works with her extended team to curate experiences and activations such as Members’ Mingles, Marketplace Meetups, Tech Talk Tuesdays and BizTech conferences, facilitating knowledge sharing and networking among the tech community. The outreach also includes the Member Plus programme, in partnership with the BCS, Chartered Institute for IT by sharing opportunities to access more global and inclusive capacity building, networking and mentorship. She coordinates membership content for the Jamaica Observer’s Digital Life, significantly increasing the JTDA impact and relevance.

Recently promoted as the JTDA’s Digital and Marketing Manager, Williams is excited as she continues the journey, confident in the possibilities for growth in the ever-evolving technology sphere. By amplifying the voice of the tech community, she is determined to drive the organisation’s vision of “Access, Influence and Empowerment” through the brand’s presence on its many platforms.

Williams takes a servant leadership approach which requires emotional intelligence and empathy, believing that listening, getting feedback, and checking in on her team are all vital attributes to leading well. She is excited to venture on this “journey” with her young, ambitious, capable team by supporting their learning and development to become their best versions.

Ultimately, Williams wants to encourage the use of apps and platforms to support the specific needs of the disabled community and those with learning disorders. She believes this will help bridge the digital divide and facilitate more inclusive, global digital transformation.

“My experiences and accomplishments are a tangible expression of my true self; relentless, daring, and innately powerful.” Williams asserted.