Hello!
I’m Matthew
Welcome to my personal website and portfolio. This site should give you a brief snapshot of who I am, some experiences I’ve had, and a few of the things I’ve worked on.
Current status: developing my master’s thesis | Managing active freelance side projects | Looking for graduate opportunities.
Hi
About me
I’m a final year masters student studying Digital Marketing and Corporate Communications with a minors degree in Strategy & Experience Design. I’m currently doing my thesis research on in-store behavior analytics and marketing in retail.
I am originally from Canada, I hold Irish duel-EU citizenship and I am currently living in Finland. I like to embrace big ideas and actions that reflect toward others. People typically find me as warm and people-centric, intuitive, and with a prospecting outlook. One of my hobbies and passions includes playing or listening to music.
My Philosophy
Pursue what is meaningful, not what is expedient
Seeking to be inspired, think unconventionally, driven by curiosity, challenge, and practicality.
Be open minded and believe in change
Aspiring to solve problems and provide solutions to serve users and customers, and help society or businesses do better!
View everyone who comes into your life as a teacher
Be crafty, kind and honest
To be my sociable smiling self, always surround myself with music, creative minds, and those who bring out the best in me.
My Qualifications
Digital Marketing
Master’s in Digital Marketing & Corp. Comm.
University of Jyväskylä
Experience Design
Specialization in Strategy & Experience Design Aalto University
Business Tourism and Events
Bachelor’s of Tourism
Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences
Experience
Formal Education
I have been fortunate to study in Finland’s leading educational institutions and in international programmes. Gaining experience through innovation, from modern teaching, and gaining up-to-date industry insight, and working with real company projects.
MSc, University of Jyväskylä
Sept 2018 – present | Jyväskylä, Finland | jyu.fi
Programme: Digital Marketing and Corporate Communication.
Current coursework includes e.g: skills to plan and execute strategic and tactical activities related to marketing, sales, and corporate communication in today’s digitized society. Some examples of preliminary courses; IT and digital technology user acceptance, digital interactions, managing customer relationships, digital business and emerging technologies, and brand management.
Expected graduation in 2020.
Minors, Aalto University
May 2019 – Aug 2019 | Espoo, Finland | aalto.fi/itp
Aalto University Information Technology Program (ITP) is an intensive summer minor study module. The core of the program is a three-month long business project given by a selected company to an allocated small group of the track programme. The module also included workshops, group work, lectures and more.
My specialization track was Strategy & Experience Design and the core module consisted of:
- Strategic Design
- User Experience Design
- Prototyping and Implementation
- ITP Business Project
Company: ADCO. Project concept included e.g: Audience understanding, creation and analysis of customer journeys, user personas, touchpoints, and communication guidelines.
The project case can be viewed here.
BA, Haaga-helia UAS
2013 – 2017 | Porvoo, Finland | haaga-helia.fi
Programme: Tourism, specialization in Corporate Travel Management.
During my studies, extensive teamwork, leadership, social and collaboration skills were a focal point, especially while working on real-life projects commissioned by companies in the industry.
A focus on business tourism, where sales and service in business tourism and events management takes a central role, highlighting the operational environment, events, sales, and services.
Bachelor’s thesis: Digital Marketing In The Travel & Tourism Industry (portfolio type thesis)
Thesis Work
Masters thesis: Understanding Customer Behavior using In-store Analytics and Marketing (working title)
Bachelors thesis: Digital Marketing in The Travel and Tourism Industry
Achievements & Certificates
Self-Learning Certificates:
- Google Online Marketing Fundamentals Certification
- Google Ads Fundamentals Certification
- Google Analytics course (in progress)
- Hubspot Inbound Marketing Certified
- TeamTreeHouse Front End development track
- Customer Analytics, Coursera course (in progress)
Project Certificates:
- Google Online Marketing Challenge (GOMC)
- Stukent Marketing simulation Certificate
- St.Peterline research project
- Team leader, Matka travel trade show
Other:
- Cultural Planning & Creative Placemaking (Open university course, Sibelius-UNIARTS Helsinki)
- ITP diploma
Highlighted Work Experience
While I am in early-stage professional development and my portfolio is diverse, I firmly believe that having a broad and multidisciplinary approach, with a transferable skill set and interests has a positive impact on my work and everything I do.
United Nations University (UNU-WIDER)
Full-time | July – Oct 2015 and May – Oct 2018 | Helsinki, Finland | www.wider.unu.edu.
- Arranged and managed travels for WIDER’s conference with over 300 international attendees, primarily handling accounts for leading economists from global organizations and institutions such as, MIT, Harvard, London School of Economics, World Trade Organization, and other UN units.
- Resolved cases with changes/ cancellations/problems, and collected data for reporting.
- Review travel claims and supporting documents for completeness, accuracy, validity, and conformity under UN rules.
- In addition, I was responsible and initiated added-value visitor experience to the conference days by providing programmed live music entertainment from some of Finland’s top Jazz artists.
Freelance / agency Webdesign & Marketing
Freelance | Feb 2015 – May 2018 | Helsinki, Finland | atelierhelsinki.com
As an occasional freelancer on the side, I like to work with small business clients to redesign their websites and provide help with digital marketing to improve their online presence and business growth. I also occasionally work with Atelier Helsinki, a boutique digital marketing and WordPress web design agency as my backend team or for co-operative projects when needed or requested at freelance suitably.
- WordPress web design (specialized with Divi framework)
- Content strategy and SEO
- Using website optimization and reporting tools e.g Google Analytics, Hotjar, and SEMrush to improve traffic, user engagement, improve user journeys, and implement ways to increase lead generation and conversion rates.
- Implementing digital marketing activities e.g email marketing, Facebook ads management, social media, growth marketing tactics.
- Providing client user support, training and consulting (client relationship management).
Toolbox-Travel Marketing & Consulting
Full-time Intern | Sept 2016 – March 2017 Helsinki, Finland | toolboxtravel.fi
During the end of my bachelor’s studies in tourism, I worked as a project assistant intern to organize MeetFinland workshop event and Matka Travel fair, the largest travel trade show in the Nordics, held in Helsinki.
I was responsible for liaising between suppliers and buyers, preparing marketing material, promoting tailored package tours to Finnish tourism destinations to incoming foreign tour operators, and served as a fair stand representatives during the b2b workshop days. I was also a host guide, leading a group of 6 industry professionals for a ‘fam-trip’ to Tallinn, Estonia.
Mixeron & Authority Writing
Freelance | May 2016 – Sept 2017, Remote | Authoritywriting & Mixeron
Mixeron and AuthorityWriting are joint boutique agencies specialized in digital marketing and content marketing services.
On the side during my studies, I worked with both agencies, primarily working with sales and acquisition for mainly content writing services and offering digital marketing solutions. I worked closely and reported directly with the CEO.
Volunteer Experience
- Slush, 2019
Sustainability Team - Startup Funding Event, (04.2018, Rotterdam & 11.2018, Helsinki)
Management team / founders - WhyNot3, Jan 2018 -2019
Community team member - Porvoo Jazz Festival, 2014
Event planning team and onsite event support. - Lattitude Global Volunteering, 2010 -2011
1 year in New Zealand as a school’s assistant, followed by 4 months in Australia as an outdoor education assistant.
Featured
Case Studies & Projects
Design Projects
Marketing Projects
Other Relevant Projects
Blog & Activity
Thesis topic revealed
Today, e-commerce sites have gathered an unmatched level of knowledge of their customers’ buying patterns, and use that data to optimize the visitor experience. However, physical retailers still don’t know enough about their customers in the offline world and there is a significant “black hole” of missing valuable data that is already there, just waiting to be unlocked and turned into valuable business intelligence and ultimately, revenue.
Slush 2019 Volunteer
Slush is the world’s leading startup and tech event. This year I got the opportunity to join a great volunteer team, as well as network and meet great people and attend the various events.
An interview article with FINNCHAM (1.6.2017)
The Finland Chamber of Commerce (FINNCHAM – Kauppayhdistykset – Trade Associations) is the hub of Finnish businesses. Supporting possibilities of entrepreneurship and an international link to the business environment in Finland.
This is an interview article I was requested to write about my personal views, experience, and connection between Finland and Canada.
Interested in my work or want to hire me?
I am looking to apply my passion and experience. I’m ready for the next big challenge!