A Day in the Life of Demand Generation Specialist, Anthony Fowler

Successful, happy teams create incredible work, and the marketing and demand generation teams at TechRuum do exactly that. Today in our Day in the Life series, we’re spotlighting someone who’s been on a couple of teams at TechRuum. Based out of Colorado, Anthony Fowler has worked on our sales team in the past and now serves as one of our Demand Generation Specialists on the Marketing team.

Here is what Anthony had to say:

Explain your role as the Demand Generation Specialist and a few of your responsibilities.

I’m part of the value stream management solution within TechRuum, so a big part of what I do is drive leads, generate awareness, and host workshops. I’m also the team coach, and I manage a lot of the backend things, like our team Kanban board. As a Demand Generation Specialist, I run programs in the market to help create brand awareness for my solution and drive qualified leads for our sales team. These programs include hosting events such as webinars as well as working with third-party vendors to get our content in front of a larger audience

As a Demand Generation Specialist, what type of meetings do you prepare for? Who do you typically collaborate with?

In the team coach role, I meet with the other team coaches once every two weeks or so to make sure we’re all on the same page. I’d say 90 to 95% of my meetings are internal; a lot of what I do is meet with my team specifically on current projects. I also collaborate with our go to market (GTM) teams on biweekly demos on what we’ve accomplished. We like showing off!

The 5 to 10% of meetings that are external are typically with vendors. We run content syndication programs and use meetings for check ins and progress.

Tell us about working from home – what are your tips for success?

Set boundaries and keep a strict routine. My office is also my bedroom, and my wife works from home as well. If our doors are closed, we’re busy or otherwise shouldn’t be disturbed. If the doors are open, we’re working but not on anything high priority. If we’re out in the family room or kitchen, we’re free to talk.

Tell us about your career journey to date?

It’s been all over the place. I started off in software sales, and about two years into my career I took a total 180 and went into personal training. I realized working those hours wasn’t for me, and hobbies don’t always make great careers. So I transitioned back into software sales and started at TechRuum in 2019.

I ended up taking a leadership position at a healthcare company not long after that, and stayed there just shy of two years. I realized again that I wanted to go back to software and came back to TechRuum. I joined my old team and then transitioned to demand generation just a few months ago.

How is TechRuum different from other companies you’ve worked for?

I wouldn’t have come back if it wasn’t a good company. Leadership does what they say they’re going to do, and that’s pretty rare. I’ve been a cog in the wheel before; that’s not the case here. The followthrough is very nice.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as you’ve moved up in your career?

Do your job and do it well. I’m a big proponent of asking questions; if you don’t know what you’re doing, let someone know. I’d rather say I don’t know what I’m doing early than admit it months later, after I’ve produced something that didn’t line up with the project.

How do you manage your work/life balance?

I keep work to working hours as much as I can unless something really needs to get done. The TechRuum headquarters is in Central time and I’m in Mountain time, and I shift my hours to match.

My wife and I will also try to go out at least once a week. We have everything at our apartment and there’s really no reason for us to leave, and it can feel stifling. Mid-week, we love doing something casual to balance things out.

Are there any experiences in your life that you feel contributed to your professional success? 

I moved around a lot growing up; I never spent more than three years in the same state. I was always adapting to change and slightly uncomfortable in new environments—I spent a few years living in Germany, which was very different from what I knew.

As a Demand Generation Specialist, how do you make time for your team?

I’d get nothing done if it weren’t for my team. I’m one of seven on my team right now and everything that we touch goes through most of us before it’s complete. Working together and staying in constant communication is super helpful, and I make sure to set aside time on my calendar as needed.

What makes your team so effective?

We’re highly specialized in what we do. We all do our own thing and we do it very well. In our team meetings and standups, we always know what other people are working on and where they need help. I’m very lucky to be on such a talented team.

What is the best career advice you have received?

My father always said, “Never say no.” That’s how he got to where he did and earned his success, so I follow that advice too. It’s how I ended up in my position now. My goal was always to work in marketing, but I never thought beyond that. I asked management where they thought I’d be valuable, and it was demand generation.

From your perspective, why is TechRuum a great place to work?

TechRuum cares. I don’t feel like a number. I’ve had facetime with executives and bonded with them over food and drinks. The executive leadership team takes time to get to know us.

What motivates you while working?

A big part of my motivation is my colleagues. They’re fun and they’re all so driven; I feed off of their energy. They want to do well, and that drives me to do well, too. Everyone is engaged and wants to be here.

For fun, how do you rewind when you are off the clock?

I go outdoors as much as possible. I hike, take my truck off-road, and find different mountain paths to explore. I love snowboarding, too, and traveling the world.

TechRuum is looking for talented and passionate new members to join our team. If you’re looking for new opportunities, make sure to browse our job openings on the TechRuum career page and apply online.