Fall is *almost* here, bringing the promise of crisp air, vibrant colors, and a fresh start. As the seasons shift, so does our team, and we’re beyond excited to welcome the best change yet — our new social media content intern, Sophia Goga!

Sophia’s arrival is already shaking things up in the best way. Her passion for blending creativity with psychology makes her a natural fit for the world of social media, and we can’t wait for you to meet her.

Curious about her path to Chair 8? Check out our interview to learn more!

Can you tell us a little about yourself and where you’re from?

Hello! My name is Sophia Goga. I just recently graduated college in May, so I am so excited to continue learning about the industry through this internship at Chair 8! I was born in Texas, but raised in Greensboro, NC. My family recently moved to Cary, NC this past year, so I am so excited to explore a new city and try everything the Triangle has to offer!

Where did you attend school, and how did you choose your major?

I attended school at Appalachian State University! Roll Neers! I received a Bachelors of Science in Psychology, concentrating in Human Services, and a minor in Digital Marketing. Growing up, I always knew whatever career I went into, I wanted to help people. Throughout college, I loved my Psychology courses, but wasn’t 100% sure on a specific career path to go into. My junior year, I had friends who started taking digital marketing classes, so I thought I would give it a try… and I loved it. That led me to adding it as a minor and taking a remote digital marketing course at UNC-Chapel Hill, while still being a senior at App State, just to learn more! As I found this passion for creativity and marketing, I have also been able to see how much the industry has an impact on people through personalized content, meaningful connections, and helping the community. 

What drew you to the world of social media and content creation?

I remember being first introduced to social media in sixth grade, but never thought growing up I would go into a career involving social media. As I got older, I really started to get passionate about capturing everything that I was experiencing on my phone and being able to share those moments with others. Then when I was learning about marketing, branding, and social media in my college courses, I really fell in love with it. What really drew me into social media and content creation is how you can start with just a small idea or campaign which can then lead to content that is able to resonate with communities all around the world. I really appreciate how creative content can be and with the digital landscape constantly changing, there are so many ways to be creative and innovative with content. 

How do you see your background in psychology influencing your approach to social media?

In my opinion, psychology and social media go hand in hand. Having a background in psychology has allowed me to have a solid understanding of human behavior and communication. My psychology classes taught me so much about the underlying motivations, emotions, and cognitive processes that drive human behavior. With this knowledge, I can try to create content that doesn’t just capture attention, but also resonates with the audience on a deeper level. Overall, psychology gives me the ability to look at social media beyond the numbers and interpret what they reveal about the audience's preferences, habits, and responses. 

How did you find Chair 8, and what made you want to apply for this internship?

This is a fun story and a testament that everything happens for a reason! I randomly went home to visit my family from Boone, having just graduated, and still trying to figure things out and what my next steps were going to be. Every day I was searching LinkedIn for jobs, internships, honestly any opportunity that could guide me in some kind of direction, but nothing felt right. My parents own a local salsa business, so my mom enjoys learning about business topics and trends. She told me that she had been watching a webinar from the founder, Hart, of Chair 8. So as we were sitting at our kitchen table, I Googled Chair 8. I looked at my mom with the biggest eyes ever after looking at their website. I loved their story, the name being based on a lift (I love snowboarding), and how much Chair 8 offers within their agency. It also was a plus to find out the founders happen to be App Alumni! That day when I looked at their Instagram, I saw they were hiring a Social Content Intern. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to learn more about the industry, what goes on behind the scenes, and to build connections with professionals. I am so thankful for the opportunity to have gotten this internship, and to think it probably wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t go home to visit my parents for a few days. 

What are you hoping to learn or achieve during your internship at Chair 8?

During my internship at Chair 8, I am eager to continue learning from the experienced professionals around me and take in as much information as I can about the industry. This is my first in-person experience in the industry and I could not ask for a better place to be introduced to the marketing field. I have loved getting to dive into the day-to-today workings of the office and understanding how everyone collaborates to deliver results for their clients. I am excited to continue learning about creative strategies, interpreting analytics, delivering a brand voice to a target audience, and creating content with different equipment. Overall, I want to achieve a strong understanding of the industry and the skills needed in order to have confidence to take on what the future holds in this career! 

How do you think social media marketing has evolved in recent years?

Social media seems to be evolving every single year, whether that be a new trend, rising influencer, or way to market a product. Recently, I think there has been a focus on video and visually appealing content, especially with platforms like TikTok and Instagram. This year, LinkedIn even added a short form video feature due to the popularity and engagement of videos. Compared to the start of social media, I also think that influencers have become a big part of the evolution of social media marketing. Brands are using influencers to reach, connect, and build relationships with their audience. These collaborations are able to produce authentic and relatable content that feel more personal for the people watching. 

What trends or changes do you foresee in social media marketing, especially with younger audiences?

In the future, I really see short-from videos dominating on all platforms. With younger audiences, attention spans seem to be getting shorter and quick, engaging videos are much more appealing. These trends can come in the form of behind-the-scenes videos, day in the life, or any trend that seems very authentic. It seems as though younger audiences truly just want to feel seen and have a brand/ influencer that is relatable to them. When videos or content is unfiltered and genuine, younger audiences appreciate the authenticity and engage with it more. 

If you could create content for any brand or project in the world, what would it be and why?

If I could create content for any brand, I would want to be able to travel with an athleisure company like Burton Snowboards or Hoka. Burton showcases visually appealing content featuring new locations, athlete stories, videos of tricks, all while being aesthetically pleasing on their feed. Their ability to connect with all kinds of audiences and showcase their brand is very engaging. Another brand that would be super fun to work with is Hoka footwear. Hoka highlights inspiring stories of athletes pushing themselves in beautiful locations. Their strategic use of social media to engage and inspire their audience to live a healthy lifestyle is very impactful. The opportunity to create engaging, dynamic content for these brands or any brand that is able to combine travel with storytelling would be a dream. 

What do you like to do in your free time? Any hobbies or passions outside of work?

In my free time, I love spending time with my friends and family. I also love to travel, so I’m always looking for an excuse to go explore a new city for the weekend or even just find something new in the area such as a new coffee shop or park to go visit! I also enjoy hitting the slopes during the season to snowboard, being creative by painting, and staying active by hitting the gym or going on long walks outside.