Empowering the Next Generation: OKOKO’s Dynamic Marketing Interns Share Their Insights

Empowering the Next Generation: Meet the Dynamic Marketing Interns of OKOKO

At OKOKO, we believe in the power of mentorship and innovation in the beauty industry. Our commitment to community and impact drives us to support emerging talent. In this post, we introduce our marketing interns, who bring fresh perspectives and ideas to our brand. Read on to discover their insights and experiences!

Meet Our Interns

What’s your name, background, and what are you studying?

Asaka

I’m Asaka Minowa, from Japan. I used to work as a registered nurse in Japan for six years, covering cardiovascular nursing wards and general clinics. My responsibilities mainly involved patient care during the acute phase after surgery in a hospital for three years. In the clinic, I covered a comprehensive medical field, from neurosurgery to aesthetic medicine. I collaborated with a pharmaceutical company to introduce a new proactive injection for migraines, focusing on its effectiveness and usage, which contributed to the No. 1 introduction rate in Japan for 2021-22. I've been studying digital marketing at Greystone College in Vancouver.

Ariana

I’m Ariana, and I’m from Peru. I’m currently studying digital marketing.

A little bit about me: I’ve always liked everything related to art, including painting, ceramics, and graphic design. Now, I’m a tattoo artist and have been creating content for more than two years for my tattoo account, which is something I really enjoy. I became interested in digital marketing because I wanted to learn how to improve my career as an artist and needed to learn how to share my work with more people.

Mandy

I’m Mandy, and I’m from Thailand. I graduated from the Faculty of Decorative Arts and have skills in painting, sculpting, and various design work. I worked as a visual merchandiser for the Jurlique brand in Thailand for three years, as well as for Shangpree and Fiit Cosmetics for one year. Collaborating with the brands’ marketing teams sparked my interest in learning more and transitioning into a new career field.

What drew you to apply for an internship at OKOKO Cosmetiques?

Asaka

As I mentioned in my experience, I’m aiming to become a digital marketer who can positively impact individual lives. The essentials we need in life—health, beauty, and food, are what drew my interest. I searched for a local business on Google and found OKOKO Cosmétiques. I was particularly impressed by the natural ingredients in the skincare products. Having faced skincare troubles myself, I wanted to contribute to helping others in similar situations by utilizing my previous experience.

Ariana

The first thing that attracted me was the products; I thought they looked very interesting. In one of our classes, we did an activity where we had to choose a brand and present it, and we chose yours. Someone in our class jokingly suggested, “Maybe you should try to work for them.” A few days later, Asaka and Mandy told me they were planning to email the OKOKO team to ask if we could do an internship, and they invited me to be part of it.

After meeting Oyeta, I was convinced I wanted to pursue this internship. You were very open to receiving us, and it was inspiring to see everything you have created, so I thought this would be a great opportunity to learn and grow.

Mandy

We conducted research on local businesses for analysis, and that's how we discovered OKOKO Cosmétiques. I was interested in working with OKOKO for two reasons. First, I want to develop my marketing skills, and second, I have a passion for skincare products, and OKOKO’s products looked very intriguing.

 

What are you most excited about during your internship at OKOKO?

Asaka

So far, I learned a piece of knowledge about Digital marketing. However, I think it does not perfectly align with practical experience and perspectives. How do I use Marketing tools and engage with customers, the unexpected problems when I manage to undergo marketing, which I would like to learn practical aspects and skills. I would like to absorb everything that I can learn under this opportunity.

Ariana

I’m excited to learn everything I can, especially about improving my content creation skills and trying new things.

Mandy

I want to work on all tasks within a marketing position, particularly focusing on the website and creating content for various social media platforms. I am ready to learn and give my best effort.

Can you share any previous experiences in marketing or related fields that you have?

 

Asaka

I wouldn't say that I have direct marketing experience. However, as I mentioned in the first question, I have experience in cooperating with promoting injection launches and introducing them to patients. This has helped me build a foundational perspective on marketing, particularly in attracting customers. I also regularly post on LinkedIn and have shared ideas with a landscaping company about their Instagram posts.

Ariana

I’ve been doing marketing for my tattoo account, and prior to that, for my art account, where I sold paintings and other items. Most of my experience has been related to my small business. Additionally, I’ve done some graphic design work for a couple of companies, such as logos and stationery design.

Mandy

I have assisted in organizing brand events for various festivals and product launches. I help brainstorm, design, and source materials for box sets to send to influencers for reviews. I manage postings on Facebook and Instagram channels, develop content, and create graphic posts for Facebook. I also plan the grid and implement content strategies for Instagram.

What trends or strategies in online marketing are you passionate about and why?

Asaka

I'm interested in social media content marketing, particularly using reels and sales on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Pinterest. Since most generations are using these social channels nowadays, I think it’s effective to understand their trends and utilize these platforms. At the same time, I believe building SEO on a website is crucial. When it comes to SERP snippets, landing pages, and website layouts, I see these as essential components of brand awareness and engagement.

Ariana

I personally enjoy creating videos. While I’m not yet comfortable showing my face (that’s something I’m working on), I love filming videos of products or processes and editing them.

Mandy

I am interested in SEO marketing (both on-page and backlinks) for websites, as well as content on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. A well-designed website enhances brand credibility. On social media, video content on Instagram Reels and TikTok is becoming increasingly popular among the new generation, as videos are an effective medium for conveying information. I think we could create trend-based videos that align with the brand's image while introducing products.

Ariana
Nowadays, I think it is very important for every brand to create content. If you want people to know about your brand, you have to show them who you are and what you are selling. If you are not using Instagram or TikTok, it would be very hard for people to find you.

Mandy
Good content helps customers understand our products and the key values of the brand. It enhances appeal, promotes sales, and builds credibility for the brand. This is achieved by setting clear goals for the brand image and carefully selecting the content to present.

What skills do you hope to develop during this internship?

Asaka

I hope to develop management skills for each marketing channel, acquire SEO strategies for the 3 channels, and enhance my data analysis skills related to customer engagement and channels.

Ariana
I want to improve my planning and attention to detail while getting more creative with new content.

Mandy
I aim to develop my understanding of SEO and improve search strategies, as well as create engaging content such as videos and build content backlinks.

How do you feel working at OKOKO will help your career goals?

Asaka
As I am interested in the beauty industry, I'm very excited to join this program and thrilled to work with professionals who are passionate about both marketing and beauty. Through this program, I believe I will gain a variety of professional insights. I would like to exercise my creativity and go beyond what I've been doing. I'm confident this experience will make me stand out.

Ariana
Right now, I’m still learning about digital marketing, and working at OKOKO will not only give me valuable experience but also allow me to learn many new things. Everything new I learn, I apply to my personal business, my tattoo business. However, I would also like to work in a marketing position, and this experience will be very helpful for my future.

Mandy
Working at OKOKO will help me develop skills that I can build on for a future career in marketing. Additionally, collaborating with international colleagues will provide valuable experience. I can learn different work systems and prepare myself for working at an international level.

What do you think makes OKOKO’s mission and values stand out in the beauty industry?

Ariana
What I like about OKOKO is that they are not only selling their products, which I think are very good, but they also help other brands to grow. I believe that’s one of the reasons they stand out.

Mandy
OKOKO offers products that combine natural and scientifically-backed ingredients, supported by scientific research and trials. It’s a brand that cares for the planet, does not test on animals, and uses eco-friendly packaging.

Is there a message you’d like to share with our audience about your journey or what you hope to achieve during your internship?

Asaka
I'm so honored to be a part of the OKOKO Cosmétiques team! I aim to contribute to making OKOKO more attractive by putting myself in the customers' shoes.

Ariana
I hope to get to know the audience and create content that they enjoy.

Mandy
I hope that both I and OKOKO will grow together. I want to be a part of this amazing company and helping the brand become more well-known.