In 2021, I was named Young Search Professional of the Year at the Semrush Search Awards. Three years earlier, I'd joined StudioHawk as a Junior SEO with no agency experience, no formal training, and not much confidence. Here's the story.
Where it started
When I started at StudioHawk, I was lost, aimless, and introverted. Harry Sanders brought me in and for the first time, someone actually believed in me. The team threw me into tricky situations, taught me how to think, and gave me the space to grow.
I lacked confidence and belief back then. But StudioHawk's core values - caring about others' growth, living to serve - instilled a passion for helping people. Those who are eager and hungry to learn deserve someone who'll invest in them.
We started doing SEO audits for free for clients that didn't have budgets. The agency grew fast through solid work and genuine passion for SEO. Working on small medical clinics and massage therapists at first, then gradually taking on larger, more complex campaigns.
The progression
- 2018: SEO Specialist - learning the fundamentals, running audits, managing small client campaigns
- 2019: Senior SEO Specialist - leading campaigns for enterprise clients with complex technical SEO challenges
- 2020: SEO Director - managing senior team members, developing operational strategy, navigating the agency through COVID
- 2021: General Manager - leading the entire agency operation
Junior SEO to General Manager in three years. No degree, no formal marketing education. Just relentless learning, genuine care for the team, and a willingness to take on problems nobody else wanted.
What I did as GM
My objectives as General Manager were clear:
- Train strong and ethical SEO specialists
- Manage and develop the senior team - educating, resolving issues, advancing careers
- Develop operational and strategic initiatives across the company
- Generate year-on-year growth through new clients and ventures
- Lead the team through COVID - keeping everyone productive and mentally strong
The results in 2021
Under my leadership that year:
- Team grew from 26 to 50+ people
- Client base expanded from 230 to 347 clients
- Total revenue grew from $2.5M to $5.7M
- Workplace happiness scores remained consistently high through lockdowns
Leading through lockdown
When Melbourne went into extended lockdowns, I realised the small moments - the casual conversations, the lunch chats, the energy of being in an office together - were disappearing. Remote work was functional but disconnecting.
I launched weekly "Senior Stories" sessions where foundational team members shared their StudioHawk journey with newer staff. Why they joined, what kept them passionate, what the early days were like. It built connection during a time when isolation was the default.
It wasn't a grand strategy. It was simple: people need to feel connected to something bigger than a Zoom call and a task list.
Finding and growing future Hawks
The part I'm most proud of isn't the revenue growth or the client numbers. It's the people who grew under my leadership. SEO specialists who became managers. Managers who became directors. People who arrived with no experience and left (or stayed) as confident, capable professionals.
That's what the award recognised. Not just my career progression, but the impact on the people around me.
What winning meant
The Young Search Professional award validated something I'd quietly believed: you don't need a traditional path to lead. You need curiosity, work ethic, and genuine care for the people you work with.
Five years later, StudioHawk has 115+ team members across four countries, 45 industry awards, and over $20M in global revenue. The trajectory that started in 2018 hasn't slowed down.