Women Unlocked: Meet East Coast Radio’s Marketing Manager

Tanya Davis is East Coast Radio’s youngest marketing manager. The PR and Marketing Management graduate started her career at ECR as an intern for one of the station’s much-loved CSI campaigns, Toy Story.

The project wrapped up three months after she started, and the station’s managers were so impressed with her work ethic they decided to offer her a position managing the Breakfast show’s digital properties.

It wasn’t long before the young marketing intern with a passion for radio became the Digital Lead for ECR’s website.

While she loved her new role, she could not stop thinking about the goal set for herself when she first joined the station - and it was a big one.

Tanya wanted to become ECR’s Marketing Manager, but she knew it would take lots of hard work and determination to prove she had what it took to help one of the biggest brands in KwaZulu-Natal.

When a Brand Manager position came up, she jumped at the chance to join the marketing department. She applied and was successful.

Tanya eventually got to serve as an acting Marketing Manager for a year, before officially being promoted to take on the role permanently.

Six years after joining the ECR team, she finally achieved her goal.

It was her pinch-me moment – a moment she hopes many career women will one day experience.

What is your dream job and why?

I don’t have a dream job per se, but I have a passion for brands. My dream job is to work for incredible brands that have the purpose of being BIG and BOLD. Brands that make a difference, stand for something, and if they don’t, then that’s where I come in, to build a brand to become the leader in their field/industry, now that’s my dream job.

How do you remain relevant and passionate about your job?

I LOVE seeing what other marketers are up to in the industry I work in, but also in other brands. I find inspiration through research, following influential trendsetters locally and internationally, and kind of everyday life. I love experiencing new things that I could draw energy from and apply in my career and marketing projects. I use my own experience with other brands as a customer to influence my decision making and suggestions around campaigns and marketing work. My job allows me to be creative, problem-solve, and bring joy to people’s lives, that feeds my passion!

 What is your opinion on having other females to lean on in your team?

Oh, my word, what would I do without my fellow “sheroes”. I admire the women that I am so lucky to be surrounded by, I learn from them, they guide me, they share advice, they are there when I need a good cry and pep talk, they push me to be a better human and leader. Women are fearless, passionate, and unstoppable. I am so incredibly lucky to be challenged and motivated by them every single day.

What is your advice for budding female professionals?

Be your authentic self. I was once told that as a leader, you can’t show emotions, you can’t care too much about people personally and professionally, and you need to be hard to gain respect. I am not saying that person was wrong or right; I am saying that is not me. I am genuinely proud of who I am and who I am as a leader. Be proud of who you are, own it and don’t ever apologise for it. Being you is your superpower, no one can take that away from you. If you have a bad day, deal with it the way you do and move on; if you are overly excited, show it and share it with other people; if someone is hurting in your team, hurt with them and feel those emotions. I believe the best way to feel empowered is to accept the person you are entirely, and that will result in the people around you to be their authentic self.