How I found marketing early, built it from scratch, and learned to lead through the work at Social Star
I did not grow up knowing I wanted to work in marketing, but I did grow up knowing that I wanted to build something of my own. When I was studying my Bachelor of Commerce in India, I realised quite early that while the degree was valuable, it was not teaching me how to apply things practically in my everyday life. At the same time, I had time on my hands and a strong desire for independence. I did not want to rely on my parents for pocket money or wait until graduation to start figuring things out.
Social media was really blowing up then, especially social media marketing. I thought, okay, that sounds interesting. Let’s take a crack at it and see what happens.
That decision led me to start SeventyThree Marketing with my best friend. He was the creative mind behind the visuals, the websites, and the design. I was more drawn to writing, thinking, and structuring ideas. I focused on strategy, content, copywriting, pitching, selling, and client conversations. We were learning in real time. We were making decisions quickly, testing things, fixing mistakes, and figuring out how to deliver value to real businesses with real expectations.
We ran that agency for about a year and a half. It did well, but eventually we reached a point where scaling further was no longer realistic. However, what stayed with me from that chapter was not frustration; it was perspective. After SeventyThree, I worked across a few agencies in India, including a long stint at Butter Paper Marketing. That period shaped me in ways I did not fully realise at the time. It taught me discipline, structure, and consistency. It taught me how to deliver work at a high standard across multiple brands and industries, even when timelines were tight and expectations were high.
Moving to Melbourne and meeting Andrew
I moved to Melbourne to complete my Master of Marketing at RMIT because I wanted to deepen my skills and expose myself to a more global marketing environment. During my final semester, Andrew Ford was teaching entrepreneurial business development.
After one of his lectures, I walked up to him and asked a simple question.
“It’s cool that you have an agency. Are you hiring by any chance?”
He was. I went through the interview and trial process, and that is how I joined Social Star. There was no long-term master plan behind it. I just took the opportunity in front of me.
What my role at Social Star actually looks like
At Social Star, my role has evolved into managing complexity at scale. Right now, I look after a portfolio of around twelve client accounts, most of them on monthly retainers. Each one comes with its own goals, pace, personalities, and pressures. My job is to make sure the work we do stays aligned with the strategy we originally set, while also adapting as the client’s business shifts and grows.
A large part of my day is spent in conversations. Client meetings, emails, calls, clarifying expectations, sense-checking progress, and sometimes having difficult but necessary discussions. Marketing only works when everyone is aligned, and alignment does not happen without constant communication.
At the moment, a significant focus of my time and energy is onboarding new accounts. We are currently bringing on three new clients, and onboarding is always the most demanding phase. It is where strategy meets reality. Writing a marketing plan is one thing. Actually implementing it is another. Over time, I have learned that systems are not a nice-to-have. They are foundational. Without solid systems in place, even the strongest strategy remains theoretical.
Managing clients while growing the team
Earlier in my time at Social Star, I was working as a marketing coordinator. In that role, I was very much on the ground, producing work daily and being the first point of contact for clients.
“As a marketing coordinator, you’re on the dance floor. As an account manager, you move up to the balcony.” As I moved into an account manager role, my responsibilities shifted. I enjoy being on the ground doing creative work, writing, and thinking deeply about ideas. That part of me has not changed. What has changed is where my energy now needs to go.
Today, my role is more about oversight, guidance, and support. I work closely with Adnan, a Marketing Coordinator on my team. Our relationship is intentionally reciprocal. Adnan handles the day-to-day execution, creative output, and acts as the first point of contact for many clients. My role is to provide strategic direction, context, and support when things escalate or need a broader perspective.
I want the people I work with to feel safe learning on the job. Growth does not happen without mistakes, and I am very conscious of creating an environment where new team members feel supported enough to try, fail, ask questions, and improve. I would rather answer ten questions upfront than fix misunderstandings later. The goal is not dependency. The goal is confidence.
The values I bring into my work
One of the biggest lessons I have learned is the importance of thinking clearly under pressure. Agency life can be fast-paced and unpredictable, and the ability to slow your thinking down is critical.
Writing has been one of the most effective tools for me. I genuinely believe that writing helps you think more clearly. Putting thoughts on paper simplifies complex problems and allows you to approach situations calmly rather than reactively.
I also strongly value preparation. Whether it is onboarding a new client or planning the week ahead, I believe in setting strong foundations first. Systems, access, and structure might not be the most exciting parts of marketing, but they determine whether good ideas can actually be implemented.
Another value I hold closely is availability. When I train new team members, I make myself accessible. I would rather answer questions in real time than have someone feel unsure or stuck. Knowledge should move freely, and clarity should never feel out of reach.
The impact Social Star has had on how I work
I have been lucky to learn from strong mentors at Social Star. Andrew has taught me how to manage client relationships with clarity and honesty, how to sell ideas without overselling outcomes, and how to navigate emotionally charged conversations without escalating them. Watching how he works has shaped how I communicate with clients and how I handle pressure.
What I have learned most from Andrew is how to bring people from an emotional state back to a logical one. When something is not working and a client is frustrated, the words you choose matter. The tone matters. The ability to stay calm and steer the conversation forward is a skill I now use daily.
Over time, I have also learned to zoom out. Instead of getting lost in daily tasks, I now try to look at accounts from a ten-thousand-foot view. Where is this client heading in six months? What actually moves the needle for them? What matters now versus what can wait? That shift in thinking has made me more strategic, more composed, and more effective in my role
