My Story

Why don't you grab a coffee ...

6 years of event and marketing experience in two of the most cutting-edge organizations in Europe and North America.

In a time where employment has become a volatile thing, I have found a way to thrive in different environments and change the nature of work relationships over time. Starting out at one of the largest pride and community organizations in Europe, my position as a Marketing Assistant over the years turned into a Social Media Specialist position and, due to my long-term residences in the UK and United States, I was later offered a freelance activity as a German-English translator for the organization.

In what has become an increasingly global world I took every chance to get educated in different cultures, such as a High School year in Japan, Work and Travel in the UK or my Master Degree in the United States. These experiences have uniquely equipped me with a mind-set for cultural understanding and a vast complex of resources to pull creative solutions from. I like to see myself as a cultural chameleon: the politeness of a Japanese, the work-ethic of an American, the diligence of a British and the honesty of a German and now the friendliness of a Canadian. Three continents and five countries later I can, without a doubt, say, I’m a truly globalized person and I love it.

Coming to the United States I started working for the original artist-led entrepreneurial record label Righteous Babe and the incorporated music venue Babeville. Working as an intern over the summer and being hired as a Marketing and Event Specialist shortly after, I was responsible for the visual presentation of the venue and several music products. Other responsibilities included advancing shows, settling with the artists, controlling audience flow or setting up ad campaigns.

Early on in my childhood I had played around with computers and to this day, my family tells the story of me at age 4 and how I managed to crash a computer into the infamous blue screen. Well, since then I have taught myself to code in multiple front and back end languages, incl. Javascript (ReactJS & Redux), HTML/CSS, Python (Flask), and have taken Adobe Certifications in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. As a result, I designed concert posters, edited live music videos for Ani DiFranco and managed the venue’s Wordpress website.

As a result of my having to leave Righteous Babe Records due to an immigration restriction (as an exchange Student I would need to return to Germany for two years before being able to apply for a work permit in the US), I had the freedom to create my own venture. My co-founded tech and design company operates under the name of Owl & Squirrel Studio and creates whimsical web apps that manage to communicate brand goals subtly in a mobile-friendly environment. As we are about to finish our first project, I embark on a new journey in Canada, understanding a new way of living in-between freelance career and employment.

Please feel free to contact me at me@sebastian-engels.com.