I’ve spent over 7 years in global marketing and tech, and a long time goal of mine is to launch an agency in Romania to help small and medium businesses go digital without being overwhelmed by tech challenges. My Host runs a small business in the health and beauty sector which completely matched the type of client I would want get to know the needs of and provide services to.
I stumbled onto the EYE program while looking online for Erasmus-style learning experiences for people who aren’t students anymore. Having loved my student Erasmus days, I was driven at first by pure curiosity to see how this concept works in the professional world.
The exchange helped me learn about the daily reality of a business, their challenges in regards to technology, and where they actually need help. It was also a great opportunity to put my skills to test in a completely different context and adapt to a new field (health & beauty for a physical store – pharmacy) that comes with specific regulations.
My stay was hands-on from the start. We started by looking closely at the pharmacy’s current setup, where Elena (the HE) and her team walked me through their daily routines, what had worked for them in the past, and the difficulties they face.
From there, we built a practical and flexible plan for their ongoing seasonal pharmacy promotions. I mapped out social media content covering everything from skincare and haircare to supplements, and worked directly with her and the team to film and produce it. I also reviewed their fidelity programs and email performance, and we ended up setting up a brand-new tool together to run their campaigns more efficiently.
My relationship with the HE felt very natural. Elena is a very welcoming and open person and as a fellow female entrepreneur, we really bonded and talked openly about the highs and lows of building a business or wanting to start one, constantly brainstorming, sharing ideas or looking for solutions.
The biggest value for me was the two-way exchange we built. I had the opportunity to see firsthand how a small business handles day-to-day operations in a big city in a highly regulated field and, on a practical level, I got to test and improve on my marketing ideas in a new setting, see what works and what doesn’t, better estimate the production effort of certain marketing materials. Overall, I feel like I have a better understanding of what I want to do and achieve with my future business.
The personal connections I made are also very valuable. My host and I formed a genuine connection and we’ve already talked about staying in touch for the future. Plus, getting to know her team and working alongside them gave me a small network in this niche already.
This exchange gave me the opportunity to see firsthand a business’s daily reality in a busy city. It was an incredible two-way exchange: I tested my marketing ideas in a new niche, while helping my host improve and build upon her online presence and growth.