AFFILIATE MANAGER INTERVIEW SERIES Darina, you’ve built a solid career in our industry, including your current role at Boomerang Partners and previous experience at The Luck Factory Group and RMKR. How did you end as the affiliate Team Lead at Boomerang Partners? My affiliate journey started when I was 21 and lived in Paris, France. RMKR was my first affiliate company, where I learned everything. I began as an affiliate manager, managing various verticals and niche markets. Soon, I was promoted to head affiliate manager. During that time, I also became the brand ambassador for RMKR. This meant traveling to conferences and meetups worldwide — from Malta to Hong Kong to other various places in Asia. I was the face of the company, building connections and representing the brand. This role allowed me to meet many people in the industry and get to know it inside out. After RMKR, I moved to The Luck Factory Group, where I took on a new challenge: Setting up online casinos from scratch. This role was a complete 180 from affiliate management. I got to work on every aspect of the casino, from customer support and payment systems to managing relationships with the casino providers. It was a fantastic learning experience, and I gained a deep understanding of how online casinos operate. And then I returned to my passion for affiliate marketing with a comprehensive understanding of the product side. At Boomerang Partners, I can showcase all of my expertise. I am fully trusted to make decisions and manage processes in my team. I can propose and implement my vision with the full support of my colleagues. Having been in the online gambling industry for several years now, what were your initial perceptions of the industry, and looking back, what do you know now about the industry that you wish you had known then? When I first entered the online gambling industry, I thought, “Wow, this is something unique and exciting!” I saw it as a chance to work in a dynamic online environment, where the key to success was building strong connections with partners. I thought it was all about networking — getting to know people, understanding their needs, and knowing when to chat casually over a drink or a more focused business conversation. Looking back now, I realize there was a lot I didn’t know about the technical side of the industry. Initially, I was only aware of one side of the coin — the people and relationships. Now, I have a much deeper understanding of how everything works behind the scenes. I see both sides: the human element and the technical operations that make it all possible. Darina Sharban Boomerang Partners GPWAtimes.org 62
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