Fitness instructor and studio manager Pamela Lai had hoped to go back to her job at the end of maternity leave.
But the mother-of-one had to quickly change her plans when the studio closed down during the first lockdown.
“I had my hands full with a new baby, everything had changed and then it was so surreal going into lockdown a month after he was born, explained Pamela who lives in South West London.
“When the studio told me they were closing it was awful but I wondered whether now was the time to retrain and get a new career.
“Social media was one of the many hats I had to wear in my studio manager role and I had always wanted to learn how to use it more effectively."
When her son was six months old, Pamela enrolled in the Digital Mums Advanced Diploma and instantly forged a support network.
“It was obviously a stressful time to do the course but everyone in our group knew how the other one was feeling and we were there to support each other, explains Pamela.
“I loved how the lessons were at lunchtimes, or in the evenings, when the babies were asleep and if you missed one you could go back and watch it on the academy when it was convenient.
“Everything we were learning was so interesting and inspiring and I loved that we got to work with a real client. I was paired up with a Facebook ads specialist and created content for her Facebook and Instagram pages.”
“This gave me so much confidence. I hadn’t been out of the workforce for that long but it gave me the boost I needed and I was so pleased when I managed to secure paid work before the course had finished.”
If you’re committed and put in the time then it’s so worth it and such good value for money. I had been worried about finding clients but I didn’t need to. I was so pleased when I managed to secure paid work before the course had finished.
Pamela set up her business She Does Social, with the help of Digital Mums and now counts a social media marketing agency and a yoga studio as clients.
“When the course finishes, that isn’t the end of the support” explains Pamela.
“Digital Mums also put on a whole host of workshops to help you with topics on branding and marketing and as well as life coaching, which was amazing as I’d never done anything like that before.”
When Pamela was approached for work by a former fitness industry colleague she was reassured that the investment had been worthwhile.
“If you’re committed and put in the time then it’s so worth it and such good value for money, explained Pamela. “I had been worried about finding clients but I didn’t need to.
“An old pilates instructor colleague found me on Instagram and asked me to train her in social media. As my background is in fitness I had always hoped I could work with people in the industry so it was amazing when that happened and made me think I could have my dream career now.”
"I truly feel that enrolling on this course was the best decision I could have made."
To learn more about how you can apply for a coveted spot on our unique Advanced Diploma in Social Media Marketing click here.
