Tell us about yourself.
My name is Maija Davis and I was born and raised in Fargo, ND. I am recently married and enjoy spending my days with my husband, Matt, and our sweet pup, Rosie. During my 8-5, I serve as the Director of Marketing & Experience at West Acres where I help lead marketing and event strategies. When I am not at work, you can find me on all the socials, as I am a self-proclaimed “micro-influencer!” I love all things fashion, beauty, interior design, cooking, etc., and enjoy sharing this type of content online.
Tell us about your career path since participating in the United Way 35 Under 35 Women’s Leadership Program.
For the last four years, I had been serving in a Senior Marketing Specialist role but had started to crave more. I loved the strategic work I was involved in but was eager to lean into my passion for leadership. This desire pushed me to apply and it couldn’t have been better timing for me. Throughout my time in the program, I feel like I was truly able to tap into my potential as a leader. Just six months after graduating from the program in 2023, I accepted my current position as Director of Marketing & Experience at West Acres and I am so grateful to be where I am today!
What were some of the most important things you learned?
Throughout my time during 35 under 35, I was given the chance to sit down and take the time to dive deep and learn more about myself. I learned about my strengths, my values, my leadership style, and how I can use this insight to help better my relationships both personally and professionally. I think one of the most valuable things I learned was the importance of vulnerability and community. If you are struggling with something, there’s a great chance you are not the only one. It was eye-opening to have 34 other women who could provide support and guidance to each other as we all were navigating through different personal and professional experiences. There truly is power in being vulnerable and sharing your experiences with your community.
What advice would you have for young professionals out there?
It’s okay for your career path to not be linear. We are taught to believe we can easily just work our way up the ladder, on a clear path, but it doesn’t always work like that. Everyone is on their own individual journey and throughout the twists and turns, you will always find your way forward. My path to leadership was not always smooth sailing. As much as I anticipated a perfect, simple path for myself, my growth came with a fair share of growing pains. But any setback I encountered throughout my career, ended up being a redirection that led me down an even better path that got me to where I am today.
