Sybil Mayard

Sybil is a Computer Science graduate and is the founder of Sybiltec Web Design, a company designed for boosting the online presence and usability of company websites at an affordable rate.  

Tell us about your career path since graduation.

My path since graduation has not been a straightforward one. After taking a few months to think about what I wanted to do, I saw an opportunity in the market to provide affordable IT solutions to small business owners. I noticed that many businesses maintained a poor website which did not meet users' needs. And many businesses had little or no online presence at all. These issues were causing businesses to lose opportunities and sales. I began offering web design on a freelance basis and so Sybiltec Web Design was born. Since Sybiltec's humble beginnings in February 2020, I've been involved in a wide range of projects including working as a web manager/QA engineer for Esme Learning Solutions Inc., web designer for the Tech Diplomacy Academy, business support advisor for the London Borough of Bexley and the Royal Borough of Greenwich and committee member of TechWomen4Boards. I have even played the keyboards for a post-punk band based in Southeast London!

What does a typical workday look like for you?

The best thing about what I do is that there is no typical workday! I could be working on a range of tasks including designing and building websites, attending client meetings, delivering webinars or advising business owners on how to improve their digital marketing strategy.

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

I participated in the ASPIRE Business Start-Up Journey, a collaboration between the Business School and the School of Computing. Through this 6-week programme of workshops and sessions, students learnt the fundamental skills to take a business idea to fruition. The programme helped me develop essential skills, including ideation, developing a business model canvas, market research, competitive analysis, prototyping, testing and branding. I also met with students from the Business School who inspired me to start a business after graduation as an alternative to getting a graduate job. All the knowledge gained was invaluable as I was able to put theory into practice when starting Sybiltec Web Design.

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

I would advise students who are thinking about setting up a business to first think about whether it is for them, as being an entrepreneur requires a certain mindset and skills - it isn't for everyone. Do your research thoroughly and make sure that you understand the market (supply and demand), understand your competitors, and be prepared to adapt as technology and marketing conditions are constantly evolving.

Did you get involved in any extracurricular activities as a student? 

I took part in the ASPIRE Business Start-Up Journey (mentioned above) and other activities, including the Kent App Challenge, Eastern Arc Start-Up Weekender, the Employability Points Scheme, StudyPlus, the Digital Media Society and the Photography Society.

Do you have a favourite memory from your time at Kent? 

In April 2018, I was delighted to find out that I had been chosen as the winner of the Big Ideas Competition with my business idea, "Codable", an online platform that helps tech companies hire the right developers. The winning prize was an all-expenses-paid trip to Virginia in the USA to pitch the idea at the finals.

So, after several months of preparation, a fellow student, Olcay Kilincci, and I, had flown out to Virginia Tech to compete against 12 other teams from around the world at the VT Global Entrepreneur Challenge. Even though we did not win the grand prize, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience; the entrepreneurial skills gained, and connections made were extremely valuable in our careers.

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

I keep in touch with Asha Burathoki (School of Computing), Olcay Kilincci (Business School) and a few other alumni from the School of Computing.

What are your future ambitions?

The plan is to become a "Digital Service Consultant" or a "Tech Generalist". This involves offering a range of services in the digital space, including but not limited to web design/maintenance, email marketing, CRM, social media management, analytics & reporting and project management. The goal is to partner with small business owners on an ongoing basis to help them grow their businesses long-term. The rise of AI will also play an important part in this, so I will be supporting business owners with utilising the AI tools they need to get ahead of their competitors.