Transforming Operations at Tiger Mist: A Journey of Growth and Insight

As the Digital Marketing Manager at Tiger Mist and I.AM.GIA, I faced a significant challenge: managing a marketing budget in an environment where lack of communication often led to overspending and limited campaign resources. This experience not only tested my skills but also provided valuable lessons in operations, leadership, and personal growth.

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The Challenge: Streamlining Operations and Budget Management

When I started, our team frequently encountered budgetary issues due to miscommunication between departments. My task was to implement processes that would streamline our workflows and improve budget management. As someone with a keen interest in operations and project management, I saw this as an exciting opportunity to make a real impact.

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Approach: A Phased Implementation

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Phase 1: Understanding the Ecosystem

On the advice of my supervisor, I began by immersing myself in the workflows of various teams. This approach allowed me to:

1. Gain a comprehensive understanding of existing processes
2. Identify pain points and inefficiencies
3. Build relationships and trust with team members

This three-month observation period proved invaluable, providing insights that would inform my strategy moving forward.

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Phase 2: Documentation and Data Management

With a clearer picture of our operations, I initiated a documentation process using Airtable. This platform became central to our operations, facilitating:

• Budget tracking
• Relationship management
• Data input
• Project management

By centralizing our data, we gained visibility into areas ripe for improvement, such as streamlining influencer marketing processes and optimizing creative budget allocation.

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Phase 3: Implementing Agile Methodologies

To increase our agility in a fast-paced industry, I introduced elements of sprint planning. This included:

• Shorter, more frequent meetings with clear agendas
• Improved cross-team communication
• Faster decision-making processes

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Results and Reflections

Over the course of a year, we saw significant improvements:

• Enhanced inter-departmental communication
• Reduced budgetary issues
• Increased operational speed and efficiency
• Cost reductions in various activities

The implementation of Airtable, in particular, proved to be a lasting change, continuing to facilitate team alignment across units and time zones long after my tenure.

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Lessons in Leadership and Personal Growth

While the project was largely successful, it also provided valuable lessons in leadership and self-awareness. Perhaps the most significant insight was the importance of listening and understanding before implementing change. My initial eagerness to improve processes had to be tempered with patience and empathy. I learned that effective change management starts with a deep understanding of the needs and perspectives of all stakeholders. This experience taught me to balance my enthusiasm for improvement with more thoughtful reflection on the broader impact of my proposed changes.

Another crucial lesson was the importance of aligning solutions with company culture. I realized that creating processes that complement the existing organizational culture is far more effective than trying to impose a one-size-fits-all solution. This project at Tiger Mist highlighted the delicate balance between driving change and respecting existing structures. Engaging with different teams also underscored the value of diverse perspectives in problem-solving. I found that considering multiple viewpoints not only led to more robust solutions but also significantly enhanced my approach to teamwork and leadership. These lessons have become fundamental to my professional philosophy, guiding my approach to new challenges and opportunities for improvement.

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Conclusion: The Ongoing Journey of Professional Development

This experience at Tiger Mist was a pivotal moment in my career, teaching me that effective operations management is as much about people as it is about processes. It highlighted the delicate balance between driving change and respecting existing structures, between enthusiasm and careful consideration.

As I continue to grow in my career, these lessons remain at the forefront of my approach to new challenges. I've learned that true professional growth comes not just from implementing successful strategies, but from the ability to reflect on, learn from, and continuously improve our methods.

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