LEARN NEW THINGS

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you do at Netflix?

I’m Maggy, I have two kids (7 and 4), and I’m the Social Marketing Manager for Netflix Benelux. I oversee the social content we make for local and international Netflix films and series across our Dutch and Belgian channels. I usually describe it as: remember the Special Features on DVDs? That’s the kind of thing I make, except it ends up on YouTube, TikTok or Instagram.

Did you always know you wanted to work in media and entertainment?

I studied English Literature and screenwriting, so probably! From a young age, I wanted a job that would make someone go: “Oh, I feel seen!” I worked at BuzzFeed, where we literally made lists that made people think, “This is so me!” Now I get to create that kind of content around the things people watch, and I feel very lucky to be in this position.

What makes content worth sharing?

I think you share content because you want it to say something about yourself, your identity or your values. If I share a quote from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I’m not just saying “I like this film.” I’m saying something about who I am and what matters to me.

The more content helps people express those signals, the better. But we’re also seeing younger generations become less public online. Private shares, finstas and smaller communities are more important than ever, so we need to rethink how we look at engagement. We’re not all chronic oversharers like myself!

What have you learned from working at Netflix that surprised you?

I’m a TV junkie and fangirl of fandoms, so creating content for Stranger Things, One Piece or Heartstopper comes naturally to me. But you learn so much when you step outside your niche.

I love diving into a world I know nothing about and figuring out how to reach that audience. Learning something new keeps me excited about my job. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll be doing social strategy for a big football team. Stranger things have happened!

How do you balance creativity with the strategy behind social media?

I allow myself the morning and evening to go into a Substack rabbit hole, usually starting with Rachel Karten’s Link in Bio, and eventually ending up watching someone draw portraits using their toes. My screen time is absolutely disgusting, but it’s where a lot of my inspiration comes from.

That said, offline spaces are vital too. After a premiere in London, I went to the Tate Modern and saw kids creating drawings that were printed onto T-shirts. Suddenly, I had an idea for a fan activation. Fandoms thrive on meeting each other offline and creating things with their hands. You only really tap into that when you put your phone down and live a little.

What's the biggest career lesson you've learned so far?

Learn new things. Take online courses, keep your brain elastic and growing. It prevents you from stagnating.

I also don’t believe in bringing your whole self to work. You’re a different version of yourself at work, at home and with friends. But being honest about what’s going on in your life with your manager and colleagues can be incredibly freeing.

I spent my twenties working in fast-paced environments and would lie that my boiler was broken whenever my mental health was struggling. At some point, there’s only so many times your boiler can break. Being honest is hard and takes courage, but it frees up so much energy.

What's a TV show you wish you could experience again for the first time?

So many. Baby Reindeer immediately comes to mind. It knocked me sideways and made me realise something about my own trauma that I hadn’t dared to look at. Richard Gadd is a genius, and creating content for that show felt like a dream. I even wrote him an eleven-page fan letter that I never sent because corporate boundaries are important.

Girls was also huge for me as a millennial woman working in media and writing on the side. It captured the messiness of wanting, failing, pretending and trying. And Crazy Ex-Girlfriend felt like watching TV with my best friend, except I was actually alone under a blanket, swiping Tinder between episodes.

Okay, one more: The Sopranos. I have no idea why I feel so intertwined with Tony, a middle-aged mob boss from New Jersey, but somehow I do. I’d like to grab a beer and a sandwich with him. And maybe kiss.