Ashley Przybyla

Ashley Przybyla is currently working in marketing in the USA for a company providing a new healthcare benefit, following her graduation in MSc Marketing in 2019. A role she loves, especially as it is making a real impact in people's lives.

Where are you now and what is your current role?

I’m located in Seattle, Washington, USA. My current title is Member Engagement Manager for employers at an organisation called Paytient.

Paytient is a new healthcare benefit that enables American workers to have easier access to essential healthcare by providing an employer-sponsored line of credit to pay care costs upfront and pay the balance back over time without any interest or fees. We work with employers, insurance companies, and other partners to offer this flexible form of payment to their populations.

What does your role involve? What do you like about it the most, and what are the most challenging aspects?

In my role, I’m responsible for all marketing activities for our employer clients to help them generate buy-in among their people. What I love most about what I do is our mission and waking up every day and knowing that I get to do what I love (marketing) for a product that is making a real impact in people’s lives. I was in the tech space before this, and after a while I started to feel burnt out by peddling SaaS platforms and AI tools that only benefit a business.

Having spent five years in the UK, I really came to appreciate the NHS and the ability to seek out healthcare without having to worry about how I'll pay for it. Here in the US, we aren’t quite as fortunate, so working for a company that is genuinely making it possible for others to have that same peace of mind is really powerful.

Were you a UK or international student? If international, which is your home country?

I was an international student. My home country is the United States. I initially came to Kent on a year-long study abroad program during my undergrad, and decided to return for my master’s.

What does a typical working day look like for you?

There’s no typical day in my role, but that’s marketing for you! I’m lucky that in my role, I get to collaborate really closely with a lot of different teams who have talents and abilities that differ from mine. I also get to blend strategy and creativity to find new ways to connect with people, which is why I went into marketing in the first place.

Can you share a professional highlight from your career so far?

A definite highlight for me was getting to help my former boss and current mentor/friend Katie King research, develop, and publish her second book on AI, AI Strategy for Sales and Marketing. That book opened a lot of doors and led me to some cool experiences, including having a book launch event at the Rolls Royce R3 Factory in London and getting to attend a UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Artificial Intelligence (APPG AI) evidence meeting in the House of Lords. Plus, my name is included in the Acknowledgements, which is amazing.

Other professional highlights were being invited back as a guest lecturer for marketing students both at my undergraduate alma mater, Indiana University, and at Kent Business School. I love it when I get to share my story with students who are in the shoes where I once stood.

How did your time at Kent help you achieve your current career?

My programme at Kent really kickstarted my career. I got an internship with Zoodikers Consulting while studying for my MSc Marketing, and that turned into a full time role that afforded me five wonderful years in the UK and countless amazing experiences. None of that would have happened had I not gone to Kent and I’m grateful for that.

What advice would you give to current/prospective students who are looking to get into the same line of work?

We’re at an interesting time in technology where you’re going to be told time and again that a machine can do what you can do and do it better. That’s not true. There’s still value in creativity, imagination, and strategic thinking. Technology can execute a plan, but we still very much need talented people coming up with the ideas behind the prompts. Don’t be discouraged. Double down on what makes human intelligence so special, and you’ll go far.

Are you still in touch with other Kent alumni or academics?

I’m still friends with a few course mates, and I occasionally interact with Des Laffey. He invited me to speak to his students a few years back.

What are your future ambitions?

I hope to one day teach marketing at the university level alongside my full-time career. I love mentoring and interacting with students, and I think I’d find it very fulfilling to help shape the next generation of marketers.