What inspired you to pursue a career in marketing? Were you in another field before this?
Before starting at ONE18, I worked in journalism for several years. While I dabbled in different areas, I primarily focused on entertainment. Music and wrestling coverage was my wheelhouse.
But if we’re being fully transparent, I never pursued a career in marketing. The opportunity to work at ONE18MEDIA fell into my lap, and I would’ve been remiss not to take it.
During COVID, I realized my skill set needed to expand to become more competitive in the job market. After getting my feet wet in Public Relations and Social Media, ONE18 presented a new opportunity to grow as a writer — this time in digital marketing. As we emerged from the pandemic, I soon found myself writing blogs and e-books on diverse topics — from HVAC to business analytics. These were challenges I had never anticipated, but happily took on.
What do you find most rewarding about your job? What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your role?
One of the best rewards at ONE18MEDIA (amongst many) is the support. It’s wonderful being part of a small team fueled by camaraderie and mutual success. Everybody has a mission — and with clear communication, we band together to ensure everyone sees their goals to completion.
Another reward worth mentioning — which directs back to the question — is the challenge of it all. While I never envisioned myself writing for HVAC and beyond, doing so only forced me to become more creative in my writing approach while also hardening my research skills.
Eventually, I was allowed to go beyond copywriting when I began working as a Paid Ads Manager. Paid Ads presented a litany of challenges I had never been exposed to before. Navigating Google and Meta interfaces, KPI tracking, and writing effective copy that push my writing to the limit are just the tip of the iceberg when dealing with this venture. The beauty, however, is strategically approaching each problem from multiple angles to find a solution — and with a dedicated Paid Ads team, I know I’m not siloed and have team members to back me up if need be.
How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?
Luckily, while working at ONE18, maintaining a healthy work-life balance isn’t difficult. The core tenets I prioritize include my physical health, mental health, and interpersonal relationships.
With the flexibility offered, I can whip up a healthy meal during lunch, stretch, and get all my work done at home without worrying about a commute. Most importantly, I can take care of family commitments and be there for the ones I love — which is what matters to me the most.
Outside of work, what are some of your hobbies or interests that you’re passionate about?
I love to play guitar, bass, drums, and sing. As a lifelong musician, I’ve spent years learning jazz & classical guitar, as well as taking classical vocal lessons.
Inadvertently, I have become a music theory nerd — always keeping my ears peeled for what keys and modes are being utilized in songs. As a result, I keep a guitar by my desk — that way if a riff or melody pops in my head, I am able to capture it before the idea escapes me.
What motivates you to excel in your role, and how do you stay engaged and enthusiastic about your work on a day-to-day basis?
I’ve always been intrinsically motivated to be competent in the things that I do. On top of that, I never want to let others down — especially those who trust me to carry out my responsibilities. In the instances where I make a mistake, my first instinct is to take accountability before finding a solution.
With the flexibility offered here, it’s hard not to stay engaged and enthusiastic about my job. If I’m feeling stressed or overwhelmed, I know I can step away for a few minutes without being reprimanded. It’s been a massive learning experience in the art of self-sufficiency — one I would not have experienced had it not been for ONE18.
“You win some, you lose some… but you live, you live to fight another day.” – Mr. Jones, “Friday” (1995)