How has your artistic background influenced your career in digital marketing?

Marketing was not something I had any interest in until I was finishing my writing degree at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Someone recommended me for an internship in the university’s public relations & marketing department during my last quarter, so I followed the path of opportunity to a full-time job. The majority of the work I did focused on promoting student and alumni accomplishments and opportunities — all talented creatives driven to make a career out of their passions. Across every industry, from fashion and film to sequential and fine arts, I saw first-hand how important it was to brand and market yourself effectively. I learned all I could from everyone around me: colleagues, students, alumni, faculty, and special guests of the university. Everything I learned, I asked, “Now how can I make this work for my writing or painting?”

What lessons did you take from the marketing world into your creative career?

I had the privilege of a unique introduction to the marketing world that blended the structure of a demanding and rigorous corporate environment with the non-traditional practices of creative industries. As my first job right after college, it left a huge impression on me. Beyond developing professional skills like multi-department collaboration, teamwork, adaptability, goal setting, project planning, and critical analysis, the experience also shaped my values as a creative entrepreneur. In retrospect, I'm grateful I learned those lessons so early in my professional adventure.

A possible career in journalism was part of your original plan before you got into content marketing for a private art university, then for a travel and tourism publisher, then redeveloped website content for a public research university before deciding to go into business for yourself. Can you share more about that?

Every step of my career came with a huge mental shift as my role changed. I went from being this reserved, weird art school kid on the student media editorial staff — just totally focused on my own dreams — to improvising live-streamed red carpet interviews with film and fashion celebrities while having to uphold this brand image in everything I did. When I went into travel and tourism, it was more low-key and I had the freedom to experiment in my work. I would often test different social media content strategies between the company's different brands, as well as my personal accounts. I really enjoyed that. I loved analyzing how Strategy A worked better for a business, and Strategy B worked for both a traditional business and a creative personal brand, so what should Strategy C for just a creative personal brand look like? I went back to higher education because I missed doing work related to helping people pursue their passions professionally. But when the pandemic forced everyone into isolation in 2020, I shifted my focus back on my own creative and professional aspirations. That was when Jessica Conoley found me on social media and I joined her creative co-working sessions. She's been an amazing coach and mentor I continue to look up to. In co-working, there were times when another creative writer wanted feedback on their author website or social media bio and I was eager to offer my insight. Helping other creatives was so energizing and inspiring, I thought, “I need more of this!”

How do you stay inspired?

I stay inspired by spending time in nature and making time for the hobbies that let me slow down and reconnect with my senses. Whether I'm hiking a trail or paddle boarding with my husband, cooking and baking at home, relaxing with a good book or video game — all these activities energize me and clear space in my mind for my imagination to play. I also love watching other creatives at work and hearing them talk about their craft and ideas. That kind of energy is contagious.

How do you want creatives to feel when working with you?

Most importantly, I want them to feel seen. I want them to feel like they deserve the best possible outcomes for their efforts. So many creatives worry their work — and by extension, themselves — isn't good enough or original enough. They think because someone else had a similar idea and did it well, there isn't room for them and they don't have a chance. I want them to feel confident and empowered to take the steps that will see them realize their potential.

What are some of your biggest dreams you hope to achieve?

I look forward to publishing my debut sci-fi/fantasy heist novel and continuing to develop my other writing projects. But above all, I want to find balance between my family, motherhood, my business, and my passions.