Art should be purposeful and aimed at solving problems.

Amidst the vibrant art scene of Miami, Florida, a young boy's heart was captivated by the beauty of creativity and the power of the camera lens. Little did he know that this early hobby would blossom into a successful career as a marketing expert, spanning over 16 years of remarkable experiences and achievements. In this edition of Humans of KMS, let's meet Alexander Montes de Oca, Senior Demand Generation Marketing Specialist at Software business line. Get ready, buckle up, and join us along Alexander’s journey of discovering what his true definition of a “perfect combination” is.

It all started with a passion for photography

Back in the day, my dad introduced me to photography as a hobby by giving me a professional camera, and our weekend outings taking pictures sparked my passion for creating captivating images. I discovered the joy of taking photos, editing them using photoshop and graphic design tools, then sharing them on MySpace and Facebook. My journey was entirely self-taught, from mastering the camera manual to honing skills in photoshop and graphic design. 

Alongside photography, I was always a book-lover and had a strong desire to learn, which has led me to self-teach various skills from coding to graphic design, and eventually resulted in me being really good at HTML coding for profile creation. Before I knew it, I started to receive requests left and right from friends and family for profile building, photography, and graphic design work. I soon realized that this was the perfect merger of art and technology, and my passion for it grew even stronger.

I decided to bring my passion to a new level by enrolling in college and pursuing an Associates degree in Digital Media Design, where I juggled my days as a photographer and my evenings as a college student. This was when I realized how much I adored visual storytelling through photography and graphic design.

Marketing is a perfect combination of art and business

I later on stepped into the field of marketing at a local publication, which exposed me to diverse industries and required me to gain a comprehensive understanding of marketing as a whole. My passion took a new direction when I became involved in people management. It was when I was promoted to the position of a studio manager, where I oversaw a team of 6 photographers. This role involved handling various responsibilities such as setting goals, managing sales and revenues, and creating schedules for the team. Despite this transition being a significant increase in workload and responsibility, I enjoyed every moment because since the early days, I have always been passionate about working with people and exploring new opportunities. 

Being a manager made me realize the importance of gaining a deeper understanding of business operations. This led me to return to school and pursue a Bachelor's degree in Communications, Arts, and Organizational Leadership. I gained more valuable knowledge about building and managing businesses, which further fueled my passion for the business world. Throughout this period, while my enthusiasm for learning about business grew, there was always a part of me that yearned for art and creativity. 

However, as I delved deeper into the field of marketing by pursuing a Master’s degree in Marketing, as well as gaining more experience, I began to view marketing from a different perspective. It dawned on me that marketing is not only the driving force behind branding stories but also the foundation for visual development, which in turn enhances storytelling. I also understood that art should be purposeful and aimed at solving problems. This revelation solidified my belief that marketing is definitely a perfect combination of art and business. 

See things as challenges and opportunities, then look for the solutions 

Reflecting on my journey, I can see how my personal interests and experiences have greatly influenced the path of my career. There were some growing pains as I transitioned from a creative role to a more business strategy-oriented role, and from working independently to managing a larger team. It was during this period that I encountered numerous challenges that also presented valuable learning opportunities. 

When I was more focused on the creative aspect, my desire was to create something that came naturally to me and had a visually appealing flow. However, I soon realized that it was not just about looking good as functionality is equally important. This involves understanding how things work and the reasons behind their functionality. To achieve this, it is essential to “do the homework” by conducting research and studying market analytics.

In the dynamic field of marketing and technology, difficult times are inevitable. Nevertheless, I have learned to see things as challenges and opportunities, and look for the solutions rather than perceiving them as difficulties. I believe that the people who drive with both passion and insight are the ones who leverage today's innovations to create the future.

- - - 

#HumansofKMS #LifeatKMS #KMSCulture

Here, at KMS, we believe everyone has an unrevealed side or unexplored depth.

And Humans of KMS is the project dedicated to letting their untold stories be told.

Read, be inspired & feel the culture of KMS!