Meet the Writer: Vik Bogdanov, Tech Storyteller

So let’s start! Tell us a bit about yourself. For example, name, profession, and personal interests.

My name is Vik and I’m proud to be a Ukrainian!

I’m a tech storyteller and a content strategist specializing in b2b tech marketing. Over the past few years, I’ve been helping businesses generate demand and brand awareness, build a pipeline of marketing qualified leads (MQLs), increase sales, and improve customer loyalty through strategic thought leadership and content initiatives.

In my career spanning over ten years, I've built several highly-effective digital marketing and media teams that have generated business opportunities and clients worth a 7-figure USD in estimated value. That’s what makes me proud of myself besides being a Ukrainian :)

I love writing and creating valuable content that resonates with different audiences (e.g. C-level decision-makers in tech, wannabes, job switchers, AI enthusiasts, etc.) and helps them find answers to their most burning questions or solve their critical challenges and pain points.

Interesting! What was your latest Hackernoon Top story about?

My latest HackerNoon top story is called “Growing Geeks Into π-shaped R&D Engineers”.

It’s based on my interview with a Chief Innovation Officer of a Romanian technology solutions provider who “preaches” a new concept of π-shaped engineers as opposed to T-shaped ones and explains how they can be integrated with an R&D space.

Do you usually write on similar topics? If not, what do you usually write about?

I typically write about digital marketing and emerging technologies such as AI, ML, etc. However, I find conversations with visionary entrepreneurs and people behind successful startups as the bread and butter of my writing, so most of my articles are based on my interviews with other people.

Great! What is your usual writing routine like (if you have one?)

Since most of my articles are based on interviews, I always start my writing process with the topic research and identification of people and/or companies I can reach out to and invite for an interview. After some back and forth, we arrange an interview and from this moment on, I focus on questions that I’m going to ask during it. I research their media mentions, past interviews and brand stories and try to put together unique and thought-provoking questions that will help me highlight the topic from a new perspective.

After transcribing the interview and collecting additional information from external sources, I start knitting it all together into a cohesive story backed up by industry stats, facts, and numbers.

Being a writer in tech can be a challenge. It’s not often our main role, but an addition to another one. What is the biggest challenge you have when it comes to writing?

I guess, the biggest challenge for modern writers is to find a new angle when addressing a subject that’s already well-covered in the media. Let’s take AI as an example. Today, there’s a boatload of content addressing this topic, but most of the available content is repetitive, generic, and pretty mediocre. So, finding that new unique angle that will make your story stand out in the crowd of same-topic stories is a big challenge.

What is the next thing you hope to achieve in your career?

I’ve recently been promoted from Head of Content to Global Marketing Director, which means I’ve already achieved what I’ve been aiming for for quite a while. So, now my goal is to learn a lot of new things not to screw up this role and grow eventually into a π-shaped marketing leader.

Wow, that’s admirable. Now, something more casual: What is your guilty pleasure of choice?

Binge-watching Netflix series is my guilty pleasure. My latest ones are Dahmer and Stranger Things.

Do you have a non-tech-related hobby? If yes, what is it?

Screenwriting is my non-tech-related hobby. There’s even a short movie based on my script that was produced more than 10 years ago and won several film festivals. However, due to my busy schedule at work, I can’t afford to dedicate much time to this hobby now.

What can the Hacker Noon community expect to read from you next?

More interviews with interesting people behind disruptive projects.

What’s your opinion on HackerNoon as a platform for writers?

I love how HackerNoon is gradually setting new standards for the media world and giving unparalleled opportunities to everyone willing to express themselves through writing.

Thanks for taking time to join our “Meet the writer” series. It was a pleasure. Do you have any closing words?

I'm excited to have been nominated for 4 HackerNoonNoonies Awards:

✅ Founder Interview:https://lnkd.in/dnQTNujp
✅ Innovation:https://lnkd.in/duvDBBmE
✅ Hacking:https://lnkd.in/de9eJDzb
✅ Robotics:https://lnkd.in/dnYnTtRm

I'd appreciate your support and votes! Thanks in advance!