Navigating My Journey: From India to Brandience

Laxmi Sathvika Vemula

Navigating My Journey: From India to Brandience

Moving from Hyderabad, India, to the U.S. to pursue my master's degree in computer science was a leap of faith fueled by dreams and determination. Leaving behind my family, friends, and the familiarity of home, I embraced a new culture and environment. Adapting was not easy, but the journey was made smoother by the inclusive and supportive culture at Brandience.

Sathvika and Family

When I was exploring various applications in October 2023, I came across a data science intern position at Brandience. Intrigued, I delved into their website, read stories, and learned about the company’s work culture. I was captivated. Unfortunately, I missed the opportunity then, but when an AI Intern position opened in June, I applied again without hesitation. By the end of July 2024, I had offers from three companies: an architectural firm in Pittsburgh, a remote position from an IT firm, and Brandience in Cincinnati. My fondness for Brandience and its location made my decision easy.

From an early age, I loved advertisements more than movies, fascinated by their logic and creativity. This passion, combined with my curiosity about how advertising works, led me to explore the integration of AI into marketing. Joining Brandience as an AI Intern allowed me to merge these interests, making it the perfect choice for my career.

I was welcomed with open arms. Brian, our CEO, and Danyelle, my supervisor, treated me to lunch on my first day and shared so much about the company and its vision. Their warmth and the friendly atmosphere created by my colleagues made me feel like I belonged, despite being far from home. It was not just a workplace, it felt like family.

Sathvika with Maria (VP of Client Leadership), Danyelle (VP of Digital and Programmatic Media), and Brian (Owner & CEO)

AI Meets Marketing: A Blend of Creativity and Technology

Coming from a computer science and AI background, I initially wondered how my technical expertise would align with the creative world of marketing. At Brandience, I discovered the perfect blend. I worked on fascinating projects such as developing AI-driven personas for health systems and creating sentiment analysis tools for social media. This was crucial for Brandience as it helped integrate AI into our processes, allowing us to identify new tools and innovative ways of doing things. My role was instrumental in enhancing our capabilities and driving forward our mission to leverage technology for better marketing solutions.

These tasks were not just about implementing AI but also had to learn marketing terms and concepts like CRM, CPM, and KPIs. This experience expanded my knowledge and helped me see how AI can elevate marketing strategies. The learning curve was steep, but the journey was immensely rewarding, demonstrating that technology and creativity go hand in hand.

What’s Next?

Before joining Brandience, I never imagined marketing could be so exciting and multifaceted. But here I am, not only learning the ropes but genuinely enjoying the process. Who knows? With the creativity and fun, I have encountered, I might just consider a career pivot to marketing someday!

On a more serious note, my time here has shown me the value of stepping out of my comfort zone. Whether it is working on AI projects in a marketing context or learning from incredibly talented colleagues, every moment has been a steppingstone to growth.

Closing Thoughts

Brandience has been more than just an internship for me -- it has been a transformative experience. From the cultural transition to discovering the synergy between AI and marketing, and even considering a new career path, this journey has been nothing short of extraordinary.

I’m grateful to the company for the opportunity and support, and I look forward to applying these lessons as I continue to grow professionally and personally.

Navigating My Journey: From India to Brandience

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