How did you hear about SalientMG and why did you decide to join the firm?
I saw the job posting on LinkedIn, thought it looked interesting, and decided to do some research on SalientMG. After three years of marketing in the enterprise space, I was looking for an opportunity to make a new kind of impact, and SMG’s laser focus on startups really appealed to me. I was also looking for a team that took pride in its work, saw the value in bringing together expertise from all corners of marketing, and that genuinely got along. Once I started speaking to different members of the team during my interview process, I knew this was exactly where I wanted to be.
Describe your role and what you’re most looking forward to/have most enjoyed to date in your position.
I lead the B2B content marketing initiatives for SalientMG’s clients to ensure that they have a full-funnel content journey for their prospects and customers. At both a strategic and tactical level, I specialize in content assessments, email communications, lead generation magnets, website content, paid media content, event promotions, sales collateral, and data-driven analysis and optimization. I truly enjoy working on projects that make a significant impact — like creating a content strategy for a client without in-house marketing resources, driving engagement for a client’s flagship event, or helping a client establish or increase brand awareness through a variety of advertising initiatives.
What is your personal philosophy about the purpose and power of marketing?
Marketing is how you tell the world what you’re solving for. No matter your industry or buyer persona, everyone has a challenge to overcome and a goal to reach. Marketing, especially content marketing, gives you a chance to tell a story about how you can help people solve the challenges they are facing. At the end of the day, people buy from people. That’s why I believe in content that showcases solutions and builds human connections.
What is the best piece of advice someone gave you and how has it impacted your personal and/or professional direction?
“If you can dream it, you can do it.” This quote originally came from Walt Disney, but it’s something that my parents began instilling in me when I was little. If you’re willing to work hard and work smart, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish. This advice gave this lifelong Floridian the confidence to head off to a brand new world in College Station, Texas, covering Texas A&M and the Friday night lights of legendary high school football as a sports reporter, then gave me the confidence to start my own content marketing firm a few years later.
So with your previous experience in broadcasting, which skills have you found translated best from that role into your current role?
After the hustle and bustle of TV news, there are a few skills that come in handy every day: the ability to pivot, the ability to work quickly, and the ability to present even the most complex of topics at a “human” level. In news, you cover a different story every single day, and the 6:00 news is going to start at 6:00 whether you’re ready or not. You may be working on one story, then thrust into a live breaking news situation on an entirely different topic. Things change minute by minute, and you’re always responsible for informing people in a calm, trustworthy, comprehensive yet concise manner. After that, I tell my clients they can’t give me a deadline that will intimidate me!
SalientMG specializes in helping growth-stage technology companies. Real tech talk here–how would you describe your everyday technological prowess?
I don’t “speak Geek” but I’m fascinated by technology and the solutions it can provide. I was fortunate to work for Google Cloud for three years and get an inside look at the most cutting-edge tech. Most people don’t think of content and technology working together, but they absolutely do. That’s why I became a Marketo Certified Expert a few years ago. As a result, I understand specific tech capabilities and limitations that help me provide better strategic advice to my clients.
What is one thing your colleagues don’t know about you (yet)?
I have an irrational fear of heights. Put me in an airplane, on the top floor of a tall building, or at the top of Splash Mountain and I’m fine. But if you ask me to get three steps up on a ladder to change a smoke detector battery, I’m shaking like a leaf!