From start-ups to established businesses, expanding into new regions can be challenging. One of the most challenging aspects can be building new business relationships and educating potential partners and customers about the benefits of your product. That’s why it’s important to have the right people on the ground.
For Velo3D, one of those individuals is Lucia Lamar. As EMEA Marketing Manager, she’s tasked with driving Velo3D’s marketing efforts and working closely with our growing network of partners.
We recently chatted with Lucia to learn more about her role, what brought her to Velo3D, and what makes working at the company so unique.
It’s great to chat with you today, Lucia. Please tell our readers a little bit about yourself.
Sure, so at university I majored in marketing, and I also studied entertainment marketing as a side specialization. I then got my MBA in International Business and Management. During this time, I was living in Florida, and I was working in the media & entertainment industry. I did that for 10 years.
After I got my MBA, I started getting more serious about my career, and since I majored in international business, I moved to Germany in 2011 looking for international work experience. I’ve been here ever since.
It’s in Germany where I started working in tech. I started off in the payments sector. Then I moved to a German company that manufactures RF test and measurement equipment—network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, and other electronic capital goods. I was there for almost three years. I then got into marketing cloud products and services. Now, I’m excited to be working in additive manufacturing.
What brought you to Velo3D?
I like anything that’s disruptive and driving innovation. And when I heard about [Velo3D] and the opportunity to help expand into Europe, I started doing some research, and the more I learned about additive manufacturing, the more excited I got about making the move.
Tell us about your role at Velo3D.
I am the Marketing Manager for EMEA, and I consider myself a marketing generalist, so my role really encompasses doing a little bit of everything. Of course, I have a great US-based team that helps me. But I’m primarily involved with developing and executing marketing campaigns, organizing road shows and events, and developing our strategy for Europe, as well as helping our contract manufacturer here with whatever marketing support they need.
If you had to choose maybe one or two things that you really enjoy doing in your role, what would they be?
I really enjoy working with partners. Right now, we’re just growing our partner network in Europe, but as it grows, I can see myself supporting our partners more and more. I also like having insight into all the different things everyone’s doing, the different projects people are working on, because it gives me the opportunity to learn about different topics outside of marketing.
How would you describe the culture at Velo3D?
It’s very energetic. It’s very innovative. I love how everyone is super smart. It reminds me of the quote, “if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room”. That’s not an issue for me at Velo3D—everyone here is so knowledgeable, and they are very willing to share their knowledge, especially with someone, like myself, who is new to the industry.
Is there anything that surprised you about the company culture after you arrived?
Just how supportive the leadership is. I was impressed with Benny [Velo3D CEO and Founder] and how he really cares about everything. He personally follows up with new hires after their first month, and that really impressed me and showed me how the leadership, from the very top, is invested in our success. None of the leadership team from other companies I’ve worked for, even the small ones, did that.
What motivates you to wake up and go to work?
I see the innovation that’s happening in the industry. I liked my previous jobs, but they weren’t as exciting as this. There’s this networking event for people in the space sector in Munich that I went to recently, and it was cool. There are so many interesting people and companies in the space industry doing some amazing things, which really inspires me. Our technology is being used to help explore space and in other projects advancing humanity, and it’s just all very thrilling.
What has been your favorite project that you’ve worked on during your time at Velo3D?
I liked working on Formnext because it was the first time that I got to meet everybody in person, and it’s one of the biggest events where we exhibit. It was a lot of fun getting to help organize such a big event and then getting to attend as well. It was also a great way to get my first introduction to the world of additive manufacturing and Velo3D.
What’s something that most people don’t know about you?
I worked in the music industry for many years, and I used to be in a metal band. Most people wouldn’t think that I’m into metal.
Very cool! Do you have any fun hobbies you’d like to tell us about?
I like anything that is creative. I used to play guitar, and I’m still trying to play and relearn it again. But yeah, anything creative. I also like going to concerts, and hiking or sailing when the weather is nice.
Thanks for chatting with me today, Lucia!
You’re welcome!
