Q&A with the Founding Team
I recently had the opportunity to reconnect with Nicole, an old schoolmate of mine, and learned about her exciting new venture, OtterHalf.
Who is OtterHalf?
Team OtterHalf’s at a virtual Frolic Friday session, where the team does everything but work.
In March 2023, Cass, Hayley, and Nicole found themselves unexpectedly let go from their previous jobs amidst a wave of tech layoffs. While dealing with the shock, disappointment, and a range of mixed emotions that come with such sudden changes, they were figuring out their next steps. It was during this time that they saw an opportunity to contribute their skills to companies in need, recognising that even in times of layoffs and hiring freezes, tech companies still require marketing support to grow. Identifying the gap that they can fill, they seized this opportunity and birthed OtterHalf - a marketing consulting firm committed to working hand-in-hand with tech companies to ensure their success.
Besides the team’s combined ten years of experience in the tech and marketing industry, OtterHalf is unique in the sense that they are 100% remote – in fact, Cass, Hayley, and Nicole are spread across different parts of the world! Cass resides in Singapore, Hayley works from the United Kingdom, and Nicole is based in the Philippines.
As the dynamic OtterHalf team, this marketing trio provides a range of marketing services to companies. In addition to offering hourly consulting services under the name "Koi-nsult," they also undertake project-based campaigns such as "Troutreach" and "Octopush" for early-stage and growth-stage companies. They also provide their marketing expertise to companies on a part-time basis, fondly referred to as "Groupers for hire."
To learn more about their lives at OtterHalf, as well as ask for their tips and tricks in working for a fully remote marketing consulting agency (which is still relatively rare), I virtually sat down with Cass, Hayley, and Nicole to ask them some questions about their work experience two months in.
The Remote Life with OtterHalf
OtterHalf currently operates in three different countries: Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the Philippines. As they continue to expand and grow their team, we spoke about their lives as a 100% work-from-home, digital nomad team.
Q: OtterHalf is a fully remote marketing consulting agency. What is your favourite part of remote work?
Cass: The truth is, as a founder, I don’t have as much free time as I would like. However, the flexibility to adjust my schedule and balance personal commitments is a huge draw. For instance, I can go for a run at 3 PM, work from anywhere I want, and even take care of my children when they’re sick or need to be shuttled to and from school during work hours. These are definitely perks that may not be easily available in traditional work environments.
Hayley: I can be anywhere in the world, as long as I have my laptop and good internet.
Nicole: Having more time with life! I get to explore and work at cafes and have random lunches with my family – things you can’t do as much if you have an office job.
Q: What is your favourite part of your work with OtterHalf?
Cass: We are very aligned in our purpose that businesses have the power to contribute to a better world. Of course, at OtterHalf, I work with the most talented designer Hayley and TikTok content creator Nicole. I wouldn’t trade them for the world.
Hayley: The team, we have an awesome bond and we collaborate very well.
Nicole: Working with really talented and kind people! I learn a lot from working with Cass and Hayley.
One thing that stood out about the team at OtterHalf? The trust they have for each other. They also have a certain kind of chemistry and bond that they share, which is really rare in companies today, much less a 100% remote company. Because of this mutual trust and respect, it translates to the work that they produce, given that they just secured their first client a few weeks ago and are expecting a few more in the next few weeks. Some of which are referrals from their first client.
Discussing Work Ethic with The OtterHalf Team
Though working at home was the norm during the pandemic, it is not always easy. I spoke with the OtterHalf team about how they work on their tasks, manage their time, and craft a strong work ethic while being a 100% remote consulting agency.
Q: How do you prioritise your tasks and manage your time efficiently while working remotely at OtterHalf?
Cass: Every morning, I head to Slack and Slack message myself on all the to-dos for the day, and tick them off one by one. I prioritize these tasks based on their potential to generate revenue 🤑, while keeping in mind our core purpose and values. Ensuring a steady cash flow is really my priority right now, given that we’re just starting out!
Hayley: I prioritize my work by the urgency of the project! We use Notion a lot to plan and manage our clients.
Nicole: My productivity best friend is Notion. With a remote setup, you have to take it upon yourself to structure your day. I use it for note-taking, to-do lists, and so much more.
Q: How do you foster a strong work ethic while working at OtterHalf? Are there company perks that motivate you?
Cass: I think our values really guide us in everything that we do. It’s even baked into the questions we ask when we interview candidates. When we work with people who are aligned with the company values, there is always a hidden understanding of work ethics. I’m actually looking forward to a 4-day work week experiment during summer, and I hope it takes off with the team.
Hayley: We have very regular team meetings where we talk about our lives outside of work! Having unlimited PTO (paid time off) is definitely a motivation, I don’t have to worry about missing celebrations or visiting friends.
Nicole: We have clear and strong work values and I think that’s one thing that we consistently embody the most when we work together and with other people. I also love the 4-day summer work week! I believe productivity isn’t always bound to the number of hours you work so this should be fun. Also gives me the perfect opportunity for weekend beach drives!
Q: What's your favourite company core value, and how do you apply that in your daily work?
Cass: Being stronger together. I believe that magic happens when the right people with the right attitude work together on the right things. Teamwork and collaboration are key in our area of work, especially when everyone in the team plays a part in driving output for our clients.
Hayley: Don’t be an asshole. I apply this by always staying connected and being positive no matter the circumstance.
Nicole: Be a force for good. Knowing that marketing work can have a domino effect on so many people, I always keep in mind that with whatever work I do, the end goal always should have a good impact on people.
Q: How do you stay motivated at work?
Cass: For me, as long as I love 75% of what I do, I would be motivated. I’m excited when I delve into marketing challenges that companies face and explore how we assist them by analyzing data and developing effective strategies. Witnessing the impact of our efforts is already a BIG source of motivation for me.
Hayley: We all love what we do. I do admit I eat a lot of chocolate throughout the day but our team bounces ideas/suggestions off each really well which motivates me a lot.
Nicole: Aside from the constant exchange of cat photos with Hayley, we all know when to work and when to play. We tap on each other’s strengths to create great campaigns for our clients and seeing things come together is a great motivator for me.
Q: How do you stay updated with the latest marketing trends and industry developments?
Cass: My LinkedIn feed is actually a great source of information for me, where I follow content creators (AI tools are all the rage now by the way) and like-minded individuals who have been-there-done-that.
Hayley: I find a lot of my design inspiration on Instagram while also subscribing to design magazines such as creative boom.
Nicole: Is this a way for me to admit I spend 99% of my time on TikTok? Anyway, I follow a few social media and PR strategists like PLM and Truffle Social. You can learn so much from other pros.
Q: What’s your current read and how do you think it can be applicable to what you do at OtterHalf?
Cass: Radical Candor. I just got started but I’ve already learned about providing direct feedback while making the person you provide feedback to know that you come from a good place.
Hayley: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F***. It’'s about finding pleasure in the simple things and how you spend your time.
Nicole: I’m not much of a motivational/self-help business book type reader. Currently, I’m reading I Am A Cat by Soseki Natsume. One of the things it teaches you is the beauty of observation. Just like when it comes to creating campaigns, you have to step back, observe, and do your research before you can beef something up.
Working at OtterHalf
Team OtterHalf hanging out in a virtual lounge at Kumospace during one of the Frolic Friday sessions.
If you like what you’ve read so far, they are currently looking for a Marketing Intern to join their small but mighty team. They are also on a constant lookout for talented freelancers who knows content, design, research, digital marketing, partnerships, client servicing, and campaign planning to work with them on projects.
Feel free to read up on what they stand for, and apply to join them in their belief that businesses have the power to contribute to a better world. 🦦
Alexandria Lopez | Contributing Writer
Alexa has always had a strong passion for writing and began her content career at the age of 16. In her free time, she enjoys keeping up with the latest KPOP trends. With her experience in writing about various lifestyle topics, Alex is now embarking on her freelance journey with OtterSpace.