#MancrushMonday Meet Marc Babin

Introducing #MancrushMonday Meet Marc Babin

#MancrushMonday meet Marc Babin is Ep 3 of a FABULOUS new series dedicated to showcasing inspiring men that have crossed my path. Previously on my #jaxpirational series I gave the ladies some props, it’s time the men got a shout out!

I have Tweeted with Marc in the past and I so appreciate him taking time out of his busy schedule to chat with me. So without further adieu let me introduce:

Tell us a bit about yourself

Where to start!? I am a 30-year-old marketing professional currently based in the magical city of Vienna, Austria. Growing up on Vancouver Island in Western Canada, I spent most of my time in the hockey arena – as most Canadian children do. After I graduated from University I moved to the Cayman Islands shortly to pursue a passion for digital marketing within the hospitality industry. There I spent four amazing years working for Starwood and Marriott International, creating a new standard for hospitality social media. My success in this industry lead to speaking engagements all over the world and sparked a new passion for sharing what I had learned when it comes to digital marketing. Now based in Vienna, I have joined a technology start-up company to help elevate their digital marketing presence through my “human” approach.

When and where were you born?

7 February 1990 in Canada. Born in Edmonton, Alberta.

Where are you living now?

Vienna, Austria

What kind of creative are you?

All types of content. From written to photo and video – there is no limit to how we tell stories.

Name of your brand?

Babin Digital

How did you discover your calling?

Through trusted creative freedom. While working for a resort in the Cayman Islands, I was entrusted with the digital content and it didn’t take long for me to step outside of a very square box, standard to the whole hospitality industry. I started a video blog from the resort with NO experience and ran with it. 106 vlogs later, speaking engagements all over the world, and a handful of marketing awards – safe to say the borders have been lifted!

What do you love most about what you do?

I love challenging what many see as “normal” or “safe” when it comes to content. By sharing my successes and real-world case studies, I allow others to take that same step I took nearly 5 years ago. There is no better feeling than seeing others enabled and creating authentic content.

What do you like the least about what you do?

I am quite the fitness aficionado and drink a lot of water during the day, which leads to a lot of bathroom breaks – that is annoying. When it comes to my work, there is nothing that comes to mind which I dislike.

Who or what has been your biggest motivators ?

Simply put, the phrase “well, we have always done it this way”. There are few things that motivate me more than that. I am extremely competitive in nearly all aspects of my life and when someone drops the previous line to me, the game is afoot. As for who has been a motivator in my life, I am not sure I could identify a single person as it is a big list. Anyone who challenges ‘normal’ in their everyday life – no matter the industry or area of focus. Those who never settle for “OK” or “good enough” are the ones that keep me running forward. I will forever chase those people.

Have you experienced fear along the way & how did you overcome it?

All the time. I am constantly pushing the boundaries of what is comfortable. My work relies on people taking risks and of course, some of that fear is transferred across the table. I want to see others succeed in what they do and the fear of not delivering is simple par for the course. Packing your life into a few bags and moving across the ocean, twice, can also bring the fear level up.

What are your greatest achievement/s?

My public speaking accomplishments, the Video Blog I created while in Cayman, my self made social media workshop, and a world ball hockey championship and gold medal doesn’t hurt.

Who do you thank for your success?

It is hard not to thank those who gave you the opportunity to succeed growing up, so naturally my parents. I would also thank those who trusted me with creative freedom in the early creative days. Lastly, those who challenged me to push the boundaries and forced me to create storytelling content.

What upcoming projects do you have?

I am pretty settled at the moment and have really committed myself to my new role with the tech start-up I have joined in Vienna. It has been a really interesting challenge for me to move into a B2B environment as most of my career has been in B2C and Hospitality. Finding the balance between functional and personal human content is a great challenge and one that I am enjoying.

How are you currently coping with the #Covid19 Crisis?

Being in central Europe and only 4 hours by train to the Italian epicenter of the outbreak, Vienna went into lockdown very quickly. Working from home presents its own set of unique challenges when working with a smaller team but overall, I think things are going well. Finding that new routine was key for me, but I will admit that working from my kitchen table puts me a little too close the fridge and daily snacking has become a serious issue. 🙂

Any words of encouragement for other male creatives out there?

I think I have said it all by now, but if I can leave you with a few notes, here they are. Challenge the normal at every opportunity. Create content that you like and let that authenticity shine. Embrace the imperfection and let your content be real. People love real content, no matter the medium it is presented on.

Where can we stalk you on social media?

Website: https://www.babindigital.com/social-workshop-trial-offer

Instagram : @marc_babin

Twitter: @marc_babin

Facebook: Marc Babin

Special Thanks to Marc Babin for his time and sharing a bit more about himself. Catch him on my IGTV today at 12pm SAST for a SPECIAL SURPRISE! Stay tuned for another #MancrushMonday next week!