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INTERVIEW WITH MELISSA HENDRY ZIMOVI


28/09/17

 

Name?

Melissa - Operations Director / Head of making it Happen at ZiMovi

 

What do you get up to down at Duke Studios?

In a nutshell...We're an online video hosting platform that combines video analytics and digital marketing solutions such as enhanced call-to-action overlays on videos and integrated user-generated video questionnaires. These tools allow video owners to interact with their audience and understand who their audience is and not just if they like a video. Our clients range from big brands, digital agencies, Internal comms managers through to video makers & their clients.

That felt like a lot of buzz words! In short - we do cool and clever stuff for video owners, content creators and anyone that does anything in 360 and VR that wants to know how the video is working for their audience, how and when and for those that want to interact with their audience a bit more!

We're a team of 6 based in one of the upstairs studios. The team are spread out across Sheffield and Manchester but we use the office as HQ and Kat and I are permanently based here (although she's currently on leave at the moment celebrating growing a human!). My role is centered around People, Process, Planning, Policy & Project management - If it doesn't start with a P, it ain't for me! I may need to diversify into Pineapple Picking!

We very much like Video, Coffee, Cake (We're huge fans of Sheaf Street's Ginger cake) Dogs, Exclamation marks (wooo!!!!!), Tech, Integration's, collaborations (for the nations) Beer, Pizza and generally talking about any of the above; preferably over coffee/Beer with cake whilst stroking a dog!

 

 

What brought you and what do you get out of working at Duke Studios?

I first met Laura and James when we were both speaking at an event back in 2014 and I loved what they were doing at Duke and what it stood for. When i joined ZiMovi we started out in a shared office at the other side of town but felt we needed our own four walls but within a more creative, positive space - Luckily Duke had room and were kind enough to let us take a studio!

We love the flexibility of being able to hide away in our little space or pop down and work in the coffee or Yarden and be a bit more social. It's also really handy for meetings and close to the city centre and transport links. I also love the fact that there's a 4 slot toaster - I'm a sucker for a toasted tea-cake and toasting two at once is a winner (it's the little things!)

We've been a little bit insular the last few months due to things being hectic (in a good way) and because I'm not in the office on Fridays i tend to miss some of the socials and evening beers - although hoping to be a bit more sociable soon and join a few more!

 

 

How did you end up in the world of ……….

ZiMovi started through a want to move from traditional sales techniques (seminars/adverts etc) to reaching people through video and knowing who, when, where and how people were watching. As there was nothing completely off the shelf that matched the needs they looked to build one. A few people advised that Alex (our CTO) was the man they needed to speak to (as he and his team were behind the build of the Chinese platform Ali Baba's video technology) - luckily he lived in Sheffield and subsequently ZiMovi was born (well..built)!

As for me...I kind of fell into the role of Operations Management. Having a slightly perverse love of all things process, (including filling in forms!) security, strategy and a natural personality trait that leads me to question things, people and decisions  I found a role that ticked all the boxes (and i love to tick boxes!). I joined ZiMovi two years ago (we're now three) having worked alongside one of the owners in a previous role and love being here!

 

 

What are you working on at the moment or any recent projects you would like to shout about?

We've recently entered into a Global Joint Venture with the team at VCode in Manchester bringing together their authentication tool VCode ("It's like a QR Code on Steroids!") and the ZiMovi video platform. You may have seen them in the Leeds Digi Fest brochures.

When a viewer scans a VCode using the VCode App, they will be able to view and interact with nominated videos, documents, web-links or purchase a product. As the VCode is closed loop technology the content owner can put permissions on that content to say who, when and where a code can be scanned. We're in the really busy yet exciting final integration stage (and a less than exciting GDPR / Data protection evaluation period!!).

 

 

Tell us about your favorite thing to do in the Yorkshire!?

As my little boy is now 19 months old, we're currently spending a lot of weekend time at local farms, feeding animals carrots! (recommendations gratefully received!) But any weekend where we've visited Whitby, Roundhay park or The Mustard Pot's beer garden in the Sunshine or eaten at Thai Aroy Dee is a winner!

 

What’s your best joke!

Yike - i'm useless at jokes....

 

“Waiter, waiter, could I have some more of these small, sweet tasting onions?”

 

“Sorry sir, that’s shallot”