Maxime James is one of the many guest lecturers who help make Digital Campus the go-to web school network in France. He shares what makes him proud to teach at the school.

What is your background?

My background is fairly eclectic and built on a variety of experiences. After a fairly traditional business school education (INSEEC and KEDGE), I was immediately drawn to digital and social media. I taught myself the digital trade and began my career at a small independent video game studio in Bordeaux, where I worked as both a business developer and a web marketer. That was in 2010, and web marketing wasn't nearly as prominent as it is today…

I then moved on to agencies and client-side roles in web marketing, content, community management, and social media management. I've been in the industry for 8 years now.

Today, I'm proud to be part of the Digital Campus (DC) team and to share my knowledge with students.

 

What do you enjoy about being a trainer?

What I enjoy most is the sharing of knowledge and the exchange of ideas. Having gone straight into the professional world, my profile is very hands-on rather than theoretical. I therefore think it's very important to pass on knowledge that my students can put into practice quickly. And when we talk about social media, we're talking about a constantly evolving landscape with new networks and practices emerging all the time (especially among young people). It's fascinating to learn from them and discuss how they use these platforms.

What advice would you give to aspiring web marketers?

I'd give two pieces of advice.

  • Stay curious and keep up with the latest developments (channels, tools, practices). It's essential to read and observe what's happening around you so you don't miss the shifts in the web landscape.
  • Practice, experiment, and don't just take people's word for it. Hands-on experience is key to forming your own opinion and understanding how and why digital is used as a growth lever. It will also help you develop your critical thinking — an essential quality for success.

How well does Digital Campus meet the expectations of businesses?

The roles of Community Manager and Social Media Manager are in high demand today (permanent contracts, fixed-term contracts, freelance…). You only have to look at all the job listings that appear every week online…

While some thought the role was dying out, it remains very much alive and in demand. However, it has evolved significantly, taking on new responsibilities: event management, original content creation, copywriting, social ads, and even SEO!

I've had the opportunity to work across all these areas, so I believe I can bring a pragmatic vision of this profession to all my students.