Karmen Blahová

Hey there! Karmen with a K? 

Yep, that's me! You're probably wondering how I ended up in this situation!

Well, it all began when I made the move to the Netherlands in August 2019 to pursue my studies at Hogeschool Saxion. My journey there has been nothing short of exhilarating, especially diving deep into the dynamic world of tourism. From analyzing global trends shaping the industry to advising on welcoming strategies for Chinese tourists, my hands-on experiences have been enlightening.

Early on, I discovered my passion for social media, online marketing, and content creation, leading me to pursue a minor in How to Create Killer Content. Here, I honed my skills in analyzing international marketing campaigns, developing creative concepts, and mastering tools like Photoshop and video editing. This experience pushed me to think innovatively and sparked my love for crafting engaging content that connects with audiences.

My career kicked off with a social media internship, where I later transitioned into a role as a social media and marketing assistant. While I enjoyed the work, I realized my heart lay elsewhere - in industries like tourism, advertising, fashion, and beauty, where I could leverage both my skills and passions.

So, that's a bit about me—Karmen, an aspiring young professional ready to hop on to the next chapter of my career journey.

Social Media Management

• Managed the creation, scheduling, and curation of content across multiple social media platforms to ensure consistent and engaging messaging.
• Conducted research to identify social media prompts and ideas that resonate with the target audience.
• Executed the company's social media strategy, implementing initiatives and campaigns to enhance brand visibility and engagement.

CRM Marketing

• Developed personalized marketing campaigns tailored to the unique needs and preferences of different customer segments.
• Implemented CRM tools to streamline processes, automate tasks, and ensure consistent and timely customer communication.
• Enhanced customer engagement and retention through automated email workflows and personalized follow-up sequences.

Marketing Automation

• Managed and optimized marketing automation systems, developing and executing automated marketing campaigns across various channels.
• Developed workflows, triggers, and rules using tools like Zapier to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Website Content Management

• Utilized CMS tools like WordPress and Divi Builder for regular website content updates, maintenance, and the development of new pages.
• Applied creative formatting and styling techniques to optimize content presentation.
• Integrated and customized WordPress plugins to expand website functionality.

Community Management

• Managed content and online courses on the community platform, ensuring timely updates and quality control to enhance user experience and engagement.
• Addressed inquiries and provided support to community members, fostering a positive and collaborative environment.

Saxion University of Applied Sciences

• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Tourism Management (2019 – 2023)

I gained hands-on experience in the tourism sector through real-life projects and internships. Key highlights include:

• Trend-Watching: Analysis of global trends affecting tourism
• Tourist Behavior: Advised on welcoming Chinese tourists and studied cultural differences
• Destination Marketing & Social Media Marketing: Promoted a European city to specific target groups via social media after extensive research
• Responsible Tourism: Developed strategies for value creation in tourism while promoting sustainability
• Event Organization & Management: Organized events for real clients, enhancing project management and communication skills

Additional coursework covered the changing world of tourism, technopreneurship, economics, practical classes, working in groups on real-life business cases, intercultural sensitivity, destination development, and personal development. Furthermore, I participated in the Smart Solution Semester, collaborating with students from various degree programs to solve complex issues faced by research groups and the professional field. This experience emphasized collaboration, innovation, and creativity in interdisciplinary teams.

• Minor in How To Create Killer Content (Sep 2022 - Feb 2023)

During my minor in How to Create Killer Content, I immersed myself in mastering the art of content creation that engages and builds lasting relationships with target audiences. The program emphasized: 

• Analyzing international marketing campaigns to understand effective strategies used by industry leaders like Nike and Adidas. 
• Developing creativity and storytelling skills through concept thinking, ensuring concepts resonate with specific target segments.
• Practical training in Photoshop, graphic design, photography, video recording, and editing to execute compelling marketing campaigns.
• Developing an entire marketing campaign from scratch for a company of my own choice 

This minor challenged me to break conventional patterns, embrace unconventional approaches, foster my problem-solving abilities by encouraging innovative thinking and embracing diverse perspectives.