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UWA Business School marketing student Glenn Langridge was given the opportunity to work closely with Google employees and learn intensively about sales, marketing, presentation and, of course, about Google when he attended a three-day Google AdCamp in Sydney earlier this year.

Glenn was one of only 25 students from Australia and New Zealand invited to participate in the first Google AdCamp for the region, and was the only successful applicant from Western Australia.

For Glenn, not only was the Google AdCamp a valuable educational experience, but also an opportunity to engage with Google employees and interns and meet other like-minded students.

"The social events like the boat cruise, incredible restaurant meals or lunchtime in the Google café were a real highlight as I made friends for life all over Australia and New Zealand. The experience of engaging with Googlers, walking in to the office for the first time and sitting down after my presentation are real standouts," he said.

The final part of the AdCamp was a competition which required Glenn and the other AdCampers to work in teams in order to respond to a real brief and deliver a pitch in front of Google's Head of Marketing and a panel of other ‘Googlers'.

Glenn recalls the final day of AdCamp being one of the most intense and emotional days of his life. "Seeking advice from amazing presenters and getting tips on how to engage and keep an audience's attention was really empowering," he said.

"Finally, when it was our time to pitch and the notes were shaky in my hands, I found delivering the speech was a real milestone. I won't soon forget the feeling of sitting back down with an overwhelming sense of accomplishment."

After applying creative thinking to present the best solution to the brief, Glenn and his team won the pitch competition which, he says, has opened up many doors for him.

"This experience drew on everything I had learnt during my studies up to the time, but what it really gave me was more confidence and motivation to get involved and grasp any opportunity the university could give me when I returned," he explained.

Since his success at the Google AdCamp, Glenn has had the opportunity to become a Student Google Ambassador at UWA. As part of his role Glenn runs events, gives away Google ‘Swag' and coordinates with Google Headquarters in Sydney because he wants to help other students to have the chance to experience what he did at the Sydney camp.

Glenn's journey with Google stemmed from an email from Associate Professor Greg Brush that he almost didn't read. Luckily, after ignoring his self-doubt Glenn knuckled down with a coffee and completed the application.

Glenn offers a few final words to aspiring Google AdCampers: "I am not top of every unit but through putting myself out there and taking in every tiny glimpse of a big opportunity I was privileged to get this opportunity."

The Google AdCamp was held in Sydney in January 2013.

Article by Katrina Mechler.

Media references

Karen Della Torre (UWA Business School)    (+61 8) 6488 8538
Verity Chia (UWA Business School)    (+61 8) 6488 1346