Career summary

Samantha Howard is an international communications specialist who currently splits her time between her roles as Senior Account Executive at blockchain PR firm YAP Global, Global Content Curator at World Vision, and as a columnist at music and cultural publication Beat Magazine. Samantha has worked across different positions at World Vision since 2010 and has always been deeply passionate about social justice. Samantha moved from Ballarat to study at Monash, graduating from a Global Arts degree (an earlier iteration of the Global Studies degree) majoring in International Studies and Indonesian Language and an Honours from Monash in 2013.

Career pathway

2020- current – Senior Account Executive, YAP Global
2019 – current – Global Content Curator, World Vision
2019 – current – Columnist, Beat Magazine
2019  – Branded Content Writer, Broadsheet Australia
2019 – Editor and Librarian, World Vision Australia
2018-2019 – Copywriter, World Vision Australia
2016-2020 – Features and Branded Content Writer, VICE Media
2016 – Writing Intern, Global Hobo
2014  – Fundraising Team Leader, World Vision Australia
2013 – Australia-Indonesian Youth Exchange Program, DFAT
2010 – Marketing Sales Representative, World Vision Australia
2011 – Intensive Language Program – Indonesian, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Yogyakarta, Indonesia)
2010 – Bachelor of Global Arts (Hons) (International Studies and Indonesian Studies), Monash University

How valuable has your Global Arts degree been to your work?

My role requires me to communicate and collaborate with people from all around the world, so I think it’s been really valuable that I undertook a curriculum that taught me about differing global perspectives and understanding differing cultural expertise (intercultural competency). I majored in international studies and Indonesian. Within my course, I undertook a compulsory full semester abroad, where I decided to go to Yogyakarta in Indonesia. This was my first experience overseas and I returned back to Indonesia pretty much every opportunity I got throughout the degree which was fantastic.

When you are intensely researching and learning to understand another language especially, I think you really strengthen your ability to seek new opinions and new perspectives. This in turn opens up and broadens your view and the way you work and my international relations major complemented that. It allowed me to get a more holistic overview of what’s out there.

What did you gain from the exchange programs?

I went to Indonesia for both a six-week study program, which was part of a larger University cohort and then again by myself through the study abroad program. I also undertook some volunteering work, as well as a teaching position and lead a community development program for a couple of months. During my honours, I was lucky enough to get a research grant from Monash, so I was able to go back to Indonesia to do my research thesis.

After graduating, I went back to Indonesia and visited a friend that I had met on an exchange program who was managing a charity in Sumbawa, an underdeveloped island in Eastern Indonesia. I realised while I was there that my short stint wouldn’t provide the longer-term support for the community so instead I researched how to write a grant proposal, then developed a how-to guide for writing proposals which I left with my friend and the other leaders when I departed Indonesia.

My friend’s charity used the guide to successfully seek approval from the Jakarta Embassy for a cross-cultural exchange program with Millennial Kids, a Western Australian organisation. My degree taught me to look outside the box when considering growth and development and of course, how to research and write. It’s great to see how you can pass on those learnings to others.

What do you do now?

I am a Global Content Curator at World Vision, a Senior Account Executive at YAP Global and a Columnist at Beat Magazine. World Vision has been close to me since I was involved in the 40 Hour Famine when I was in high school so I always envisioned working these since I was really young. They say you “bleed orange” when you’ve been there so a while and I suppose by now that’s quite true. I’ve been there for eight years now, with time off overseas.

My role there involves working with the Global Content Collaboration Team to develop and grow an international story content hub. This allows content creators around the world to gather important stories from the people we work with and for me to curate so different teams can deliver them to market and help make a difference. The international nature of my job has allowed me help strengthen the networks of our content team by creating one efficient system for people to come to.

YAP Global is an international blockchain and fintech PR firm. We work with start-ups and established blockchain companies who are creating really innovative and transformative disruptive technology in a range of industries. The leaders of these companies are very intelligent and technologically-advanced but are not necessarily professional communicators. My job is to help translate the inner-workings of their brain, convert them to stories and opinion pieces and get them published in top tier media publications around the world.

Do you have any advice for students who are trying to adapt to change?

I think when you leave university, it’s easy to feel really nervous that you won't get accepted into a job. I think there’s a mindset where you think an employer needs to accept you. But I believe we build our jobs – just get involved with as much as you can and you’ll start carving your ideal resume and the job you want will come.

List your dream organisations and use LinkedIn too, it tells you a lot about how people got to where they are. Don’t be afraid to add people on there too – I got my YAP Global job because I connected with my boss on LinkedIn on exchange a lifetime ago and I messaged her when I saw she was now running a blockchain PR firm. Feel free to send a message to ask for advice or a virtual cup of coffee – people love receiving questions and giving advice.

I think internships are really important as well – even if they are unpaid. It’s so valuable to just keep adding experience to your resume and figuring out what you like the most. I did lots of free writing work just so I could put it on my CV. You’ll be surprised how many doors it opens for you.