Ewelina R.

Chief Operating Officer
Happy to mentor
Happy to be contacted

About me

Ewelina R.
Language and Linguistic Science
German and Linguistics (with a year abroad)
Undergraduate
Vanbrugh
2018
Poland

My employment

Chief Operating Officer
Intellistart Law Firm Marketing
United Kingdom
Advertising, marketing and PR
Small business (0-49 employees)
2021

More about Ewelina

Has a disability
Low Income Household

Like this profile?

Add this profile to your favourites so you can return to it later from your account.

A day in the life of a Chief Operating Officer in the United Kingdom

I lead a team of specialist legal marketing experts who help law firms achieve and improve their online presence, enhance their industry profiles, increase web leads, and develop customer service and client retention.

Briefly describe the organisation you work for

Intellistart is a marketing agency for law firms. Whether they need a new website, search engine optimisation (SEO), or want to start a paid advertising (PPC) campaign to generate more legal enquiries, we help them.

What do you do?

As a Chief Operating Officer at Intellistart, I am responsible for ensuring that all our law firm clients grow and succeed online as a result of our business generation strategies.

I lead a team of specialist legal marketing experts who help law firms achieve and improve their online presence, enhance their industry profiles, increase web enquiries, and develop customer service and client retention.

I also specialise in SEO which means I optimise website content to help it rank on Google.

Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?

In my previous roles, I realised that I am very creative individual and enjoy working with numbers and facts. This is what legal marketing is about - especially the SEO side of it. Law firm marketing differs from other types of marketing (it's a niche) and it is something that I truly enjoy.

Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?

I didn't have a strong idea of what I wanted coming out of university. I was initially interested in insurance, so I found a role within an insurance brokerage. I worked there for almost two years but ultimately it wasn't something that I enjoyed as the role lacked creativity. The training I received was, however, very valuable and I use the skills I gained there in my marketing role.

Describe your most memorable day at work

There have been a few! However, I think the most memorable day was when we published my first ever website which I made for a Leeds-based charity Learning Partnerships. For this (and a couple of other things the Intellistart team has done for the charity), we received recognition from the North West Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

Are there any challenges associated with your job?

My role requires a broad understanding of web design, SEO and lead generation as well as law. Google also keep updating their algorithms so I need to stay 'on top' of any updates. There is a lot of work selling and persuading clients to adapt your strategies and trust your expertise. A lot of our clients had previously tried (generic) marketing which didn't work out for them so a lot of work goes into re-gaining their trust in digital marketing.

What’s your work environment and culture like?

It is fun and diverse. You learn a lot from working with solicitors! They always have something interesting to say whether it is about their job, their firm, personal life, or law.

What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?

I was a member of a number of societies, including henna, Polish and German society. The main skill that I improved and which helps me a lot today is communication. When you join a society, you have to get out of your comfort zone and talk to people you don't know. Whichever career path you take, you will likely have to have this skill so don't shy away from joining societies and talking to people.

What would you like to do next with your career?

As our company is fairly small (under 10 employees), since my first day, I have been taking much wider responsibility for running the business outside of my own department. I am on course to becoming the company's director.

What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?

What you write in your CV is extremely important. Don't describe your past job roles as recruiters are not looking for 'doers' - they are looking for achievers. Talk about the processes you improved, KPIs you exceeded, things you have done to improve the business.

What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?

I am happy to answer any questions you may have including questions about legal marketing and CV building. I can also provide some interview tips - I have conducted a number of interviews since I started working at Intellistart so I can definitely share my thoughts!

Next steps...

If you like the look of Ewelina’s profile, the next steps are down to you! You can send Ewelina a message to find out more about their career journey. If you feel you would benefit from more in-depth conversations, ask Ewelina to be your mentor.

Related profiles

Imogen G.
Senior Content Executive
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays
Language and Linguistic Science
2015
Chris M.
Marketing Manager
Vodafone
Language and Linguistic Science
2015
Adam C.
Graduate Business Executive
ProxiSmart Ltd
Management
2019
Iain B.
Advisor to Early Stage Companies
IMDC (small consultancy)
Computer Science
2004