Embarking on the Laika Adventure: From Spain to Berlin
By Clara Aranda
Since I was very young, I have been quite lucky to have the opportunity to travel to incredible places like Thailand, Mexico, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brazil… to explore the world and to get to know new cultures. So much is my passion for travelling that I know more places abroad than in my own country, Spain. Travelling has turned me into a curious, explorative, and daring girl, eager to face new challenges and ready to take on the world.
However, travelling is not the only thing I am passionate about. I like creating great designs, overcoming creative challenges, and finding innovative solutions, which is why I became interested in the world of marketing and decided to study for a degree in marketing & advertising in Madrid. I learned a lot by doing practical work, such as the corporate visual identity of a company I created or launching a new product, and even the creation and organization of an event. It was then that I realized that is what I wanted to do for a living. And after two intense and excellent years, I finished my studies.
Ready for Take-off
You may ask, how did a Spanish student end up working at Laika? Let me explain.
In the last academic year, I was offered the opportunity to do an internship in another country, known as Erasmus. And since I studied German, it was the perfect opportunity. I got down to work, I nailed the exam, and I was the student with the highest mark, so my place in the Erasmus program was assured. Then I started looking for marketing companies in Berlin. After several days of looking for a company that matched my requirements, I found Laika, which caught my attention because of its philosophy and personality. I sent them my CV and to my surprise, they contacted me almost immediately!
Ela was very kind and scheduled a first interview to get to know each other. It was great and I felt super comfortable. Afterward, we scheduled another one to meet the crew. They were all super nice to me; they asked me interesting questions like ‘What is your favorite marketing campaign’, or to show them some of the projects that I had developed in class. They even told me about their experiences working for Laika.
After meeting the crew, I was super excited. It seemed that everything had gone great during the meeting, and that same night I got an email from Ela, confirming that I would be doing my internship at Laika! The email was great; there was a section with feedback from each of the colleagues who had been on the call, as well as another explaining everything I was going to do in the Laikaverse when I started the internship.
Boarding the Spaceship
The welcome was great; First, I met Steffi and Andrea, who showed me around the office and helped me to get the tools I needed to work. Then I was introduced to my Space Buddy Sabrina, who really made me feel at home and helped me develop my skills early on. They gave me a lot of welcoming gifts, such as headphones, a notebook, a laptop sleeve, and much more merch… and everything I needed to get down to work and start working with the Space Dogs.
Now I am here, in the Laika spaceship, surrounded by a wonderful crew, cozy facilities, and very good atmosphere. In spite of having been here for a short time, I can say that it is the place where I have always dreamed of working. Since I started I have worked on creating designs for the marketing team and I am also involved in client projects where I contribute ideas and create the necessary content.
Leaving my life in Spain and coming to work in Berlin, even if only for a short time, is a big step for me. But accompanied by a great crew, everything is much better!