Meet the Team - Jordan Knights
Are you interested in meeting the team behind the Think Global Forum? Today we are speaking with Jordan Knights, Director of Technical Marketing.
TGF: JORDAN, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR CURRENT ROLE IN THE THINK GLOBAL FORUM?
JK: My current role within the Think Global Forum team is Director of Technical Marketing, encompassing planning and executing content strategies, systems development, analytical analysis, and digital asset management.
TGF: SOUNDS VERY INTERESTING, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION THAT HAS AND IS OCCURRING ACROSS MANY ORGANIZATIONS AT PRESENT. IS THERE ANY PART OF YOUR ROLE THAT YOU PARTICULARLY ENJOY?
JK: Certainly, the favorite part of my job is overcoming the various technical challenges that we face and improving the systems we currently have in place. A great example of this was the last Think Global Awards and how we could push Zoom to its limits and produce a high-quality awards ceremony.
TGF: IT WAS CERTAINLY A GREAT EVENT TO BE PART OF, AND WELL DONE ON DELIVERING WHAT APPEARED TO BE A COMPLETELY SEAMLESS EVENT? ASIDE FROM THE AWARDS, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE TGF EVENT?
JK: I am still relatively new to the team, and as such, I have only had the chance to experience a handful of events, but my most memorable one so far would be the Think Global Forum Summit Week. It was executed perfectly from a technical standpoint and showcased thought-provoking roundtable discussions.
TGF: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE TRANSITION TO VIRTUAL EVENTS?
JK: The transition from cities and in-person events to virtual events, due to the pandemic, has been a plethora of new technical challenges and hurdles that we have had to meet. But it has been a fantastic opportunity to learn what is possible and to showcase my technical skills.
TGF: LIKE MANY ORGANIZATIONS, TGF HAS ENABLED ALL ITS EMPLOYEES TO CONTINUE TO WORK FROM HOME. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND EXPECTATIONS ON THE WORK FROM HOME MOVEMENT?
JK: I am an avid supporter of the work from home movement. I believe moving forward, companies should aim to incorporate a hybrid model that empowers their employees and has the added benefit of reducing emissions from commuting.
TGF: ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE, DID YOU GO TO UNIVERSITY, AND IF SO, WHAT DID YOU STUDY?
JK: I went to Teesside University, located in the small town of Middlesbrough in England. During my time there, I studied Computer Games Design which was the first stepping stone for me to enter the Marketing industry.
TGF: QUITE A PIVOT FROM DESIGNING COMPUTER GAMES TO WORKING WITHIN MARKETING, WAS THIS ALWAYS THE PLAN, OR CAN I ASK WHAT YOUR EARLIEST AMBITION WAS?
JK: Like most kids, my earliest ambition was to become an astronaut, but as time passed and I grew and learned, my interest shifted into the marketing industry and the creative aspects encompassing the sector.
TGF: ASIDE FROM YOUR PASSION FOR TECHNICAL MARKETING, WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER AREAS OF INTEREST, AND WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?
JK: During my downtime, I like to exercise my creativity with miniature painting, tabletop games, and creative writing. I find these hobbies are a great way to immerse myself and put aside any challenges and tribulations on my mind.
TGF: WOW, SOME UNUSUAL PASTIMES THERE, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU CAN TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF THAT OTHERS MAY BE SURPRISED TO HEAR?
JK: During university, I was quite the adrenaline chaser. I loved the idea of being able to experience and part-take in ‘high-risk activities’ such as skydiving, bungee jumping, and even the weekly game of paintballing.
TGF: WELL, I CAN UNDOUBTEDLY CONFIRM THAT I DO NOT SHARE YOUR LOVE OF SKYDIVING OR BUNGEE JUMPING. MOVING BACK DOWN TO EARTH, WHAT IS YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM OF CHOICE?
JK: Without a doubt, my platform of choice is Reddit. Just watching Reddit’s journey from two roommates in 2005 to now competing against tech giants such as Facebook and Twitter is motivational from a marketing standpoint.
TGF: WHAT BRAND OR BRANDS DO YOU LIKE?
JK: While it is not a large brand, I have a strong affinity towards the UK games company Jagex. One of their game titles was the inspiration behind my degree in computer games development, and I still play that game regularly to this day.
TGF: I CAN’T SAY IT IS A BRAND I HAVE HEARD OF, BUT I WILL BE LOOKING THEM UP AFTER THIS INTERVIEW. LOOKING BEYOND BRANDS NOW TO INDIVIDUALS, IS THERE ANYBODY WHO INSPIRES YOU?
JK: Many individuals have inspired me over the last few years; from a professional standpoint, Jamey Stegmaier has inspired me with his history in the crowdfunding sector and his vast knowledge, which he distills in his crowdfunding strategy guides and blogs.
TGF: IS THERE ANYONE YOU WOULD BE STARSTRUCK TO MEET?
JK: It is a bit ‘nerdy,’ but I would be starstruck if I got the chance to meet Matt Mercer. He’s a prominent figure in the tabletop & voice acting industries with various roles as McCree from Overwatch and the dungeon master of Critical Role.
TGF: IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ANOTHER CAREER, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
JK: If I could choose another career, I’d probably look at moving back into self-employment. I’ve always wanted to set up a games café or a tavern at some point. Right now, it’s my retirement plan, ha-ha!
TGF: WELL, YOU CONTINUE TO SURPRISE ME JORDAN, I CERTAINLY DID NOT ANTICIPATE THAT ANSWER! BUT FINALLY, WE’VE COME TO THE LAST QUESTION. IT IS THE YEAR 2026; WHERE WOULD WE FIND YOU, AND WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING?
JK: In five years, I still see myself with the Think Global Forum team working on our next big event with the aims of pushing technology even further and achieving new heights.