Derek E. Baird
Sr. Director, Youth Strategy & Consumer Culture
“Trust yourself. Listen to the advice of others, but ultimately, you do what makes sense to you. Follow your own road.”
Milestones
My road in life has taken me all over.
Graduated from college! Now what?
Finding a "real job." Working lots of "meh" gigs. Basically confused.
First professional gig. "Ohhh. I really don't like this, at all." Shift gears.
Second professional gig. "Ooooh. I *really* like this gig, a lot."
Grad school. Really amazing experience. I'm on the right road now.
Full throttle. Lots of amazing opportunities.
Published a book! Secured patents! Published in academic research journals.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Certification/License
Digital Marketing
University of San Francisco
Digital Marketing
University of San Francisco
Certification/License
Gamification
Udemy
Gamification
Udemy
Career
Sr. Director, Youth Strategy & Consumer Culture
I help brands better understand what makes kids tick.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Technology
Design
Communicating / Sharing Stories
Day to Day
I start the day digging into the latest kid culture buzz, trends, and industry news. Then usually meetings, email triage and brainstorming.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for college students
I think internships are a terrific way to get a foot in the door. Be willing to listen. Don't be afraid to ask questions. If you love something, be prepared for a lot of "no" before you hear "yes."
Recommended Education
My career is not related to what I studied. I'd recommend this path instead:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Society in General:
"Liberal arts are a waste of a degree."
