Success Story: Ken Pua

CDMP Batch 4

What was your work background before enrolling in DMI?

Before I enrolled in DMI in 2016, I was already 5 years into being the digital marketing manager at Kent Industrial USA. Here’s a quick back story: I obtained both my Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Information Systems at California State University, Fullerton with the hopes of working as a systems administrator to kick off my career. I was eventually hired at Kent USA to fill that position. Being a much smaller company than it is now, I practically worked myself out of a job when I was able to revamp the entire server/network infrastructure within a few months.

One of my bosses then asked me if I was willing to learn web development to work on their then archaic website. I agreed and learned it on the job. Over the years, I’ve learned the fundamentals of SEO, PPC, web UX/UI, social media, graphic design, etc. through resources online. My learning path was dictated by the company’s needs. However, there was really no structured syllabus to at least know what to learn.

What influenced your decision to study and get certified in digital marketing?

A few years into my new digital marketing manager position, I came into the realization that there has got to be a structured learning program for this rapidly growing industry. For years I have been too tunnel-visioned into the individual digital marketing subjects, tools, and new techniques but not really the bird’s eye view of digital marketing as to how it can benefit a company through its potential as one symbiotic system as opposed to being independent silos.

Why did you choose to study with DMI?

I chose DMI because of its success stories worldwide. Just like in SEO, a website can talk about how good its company is, but it’s really the external sources/backlinks that refer back to it that matters more. Suffice it to say, DMI had and still has the best backlinks in my opinion.

How has it helped you in your business or work?

I feel that digital marketing is one of those fields that’s easy to get into but hard to be good at. Anybody can search online for resources to tackle a business need as they come. Completing the program has allowed me to see things from a systematic perspective. Instead of merely reacting to a business need, we are now being proactive and staying ahead of the competition.

Since completing the program, how has your career progressed?

I attended the DMI program with a running start. I was already a few years into the field and already knew what I wanted to learn more about. I knew that I’ll be able to learn from experienced instructors and classmates through their mixed background of both traditional and digital marketing. Through these, I’ve had a better understanding of how things were, which ones succeeded/failed/retained, which, as a result, made me understand the ideas behind the current digital marketing landscape more easily.

What’s your advice for new students?

My tip to future students: always have a curious mind. Despite the DMI program being one of the best out there, you’d still be required to stay abreast of the digital marketing landscape long after you’ve finished the program. Things are always changing. New rules, tools, and technologies are always emerging. This program provides you with a solid foundation on the major subjects of digital marketing. It is still up to you to keep building upon it.

How would you describe your learning experience with DMI?

The biggest values that I’ve gotten out of the program were from the handpicked instructors and my fellow students. The program syllabus was very well put together. It was dense with information and yet left me with enough curiosity to research further.

The instructors were experts in their own subjects – experts that have been around long enough to experience the transition from what was once asynchronous and rigid broadcasting of traditional marketing into the inevitable adaptation of today’s highly responsive and iterative process of digital marketing. I’ve also learned a lot from my fellow students who came from different backgrounds and age groups.