Tell us about yourself.
I grew up in Bismarck, ND but have called Fargo home for the past two years. I enjoy doing meaningful work, with a bit of creative flair sprinkled in whenever possible. In the community, I’m passionate about giving back and I volunteer as a mentor with BIO Girls. I’m currently working towards earning my master’s degree from the University of North Dakota. As an MBA student, my interests include social entrepreneurship and studying sustainable business best practices. Outside of work and school, I enjoy practicing yoga and can typically be found at a hot yoga or sculpt class. I graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2018 with my bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing. I have worked in marketing in some capacity since then, on both the agency side as well as in-house. I started at Marvin in July 2021 as a Marketing Strategist and recently accepted a new role with the company as a Marketing Project Manager.
My favorite aspect of working in marketing is the crossover between creative storytelling and developing strategic plans that are sustainable for businesses. I’m pursuing my MBA to learn more about business from a holistic perspective, and am excited for what the future holds to continue applying my strengths to help businesses solve problems in unique ways. I love taking a complex idea or situation and breaking it down to tell an engaging story or propose a creative solution. At Marvin, I apply marketing strategies and tactics to the human resources side of the business to tell our employer story in an engaging and authentic way. With more than 7,000 colleagues across North America, I get to meet people throughout the company and tell stories about why they’re passionate about what they do and the team they work with. If at least one person has decided to work at Marvin as a result of a video I’ve produced or article I’ve written, and that decision made a positive difference in their life, then I feel I’ve made an impact.
Who are some people who have been influential in your journey and why?
Some of the people who have made the biggest impact are those who saw strengths in me that I didn’t see in myself.
My mom was the person who encouraged me to pursue marketing as a career path to combine my passion for writing with my interest in business. Mentors of mine in college and throughout my career have made a positive impact and influenced many big decisions I’ve made—particularly my mentor, Jana, and my manager, Anne, who are two women I really look up to.
My cousin, Paige, has always been like an older sister to me. She is one of the most compassionate people I know, a quality I admire that inspires me to try to be kind to everyone. Her young daughter, Nora, inspires me to be another woman she can look up to as she grows up.
My younger sister, Maddie, has been an influence throughout my life as I’ve tried to be the type of person she can look up to and learn from. Our parents have always supported us and encouraged us to chase our dreams.
What are some important lessons you have learned in your lifetime?
There are quite a few lessons that took me a long time to learn. One important lesson I still constantly remind myself of is to not compare myself to others. I often find myself thinking that everyone else has it all figured out and I’m falling behind, but then I talk to the people I compare myself to and realize this is rarely the case. I try my best to practice gratitude rather than dwelling on what I don’t have or what I haven’t accomplished yet.
Another lesson I’m still learning is to stop caring so much about what other people think. Growing up, I let the fear of what other people might think of me hold me back from doing things I wanted to do. Now, I try to push past that fear and remind myself that nobody is thinking about you as much as you think they are. They’re generally too busy thinking about themselves.
What is your dream job and why?
I feel most fulfilled at work when I get to collaborate with other passionate people who are eager to make an impact. My dream job would be to eventually grow into a leadership role in marketing, whether that’s a CMO role or something similar. I truly care about people and solving problems. I want to make a positive change in the world and use my talents to do work that is honest and authentic and aligns with my values. Bonus points if I get to travel, see the world and learn new things in this dream job!
Do you have any book or podcast recommendations for our readers?
My favorite podcast is How I Built This with Guy Raz. It has changed the way I view leadership because the people interviewed on the podcast are entrepreneurs who generally didn’t set out with the intention of becoming a leader in the traditional sense. Guests on the podcast tell stories of how they started their business, overcame obstacles and persevered through hard times when they thought the thing they built might completely fall apart. It’s changed how I view success and working towards something you’re passionate about while having an unwavering belief in yourself and your vision for the future.
What are you hoping to gain from the United Way 35 Under 35 Women’s Leadership Program?
I’m excited to connect with and learn from the other women in the United Way 35 Under 35 Women’s Leadership Program. Each of us brings a different set of experiences and a unique perspective. I feel incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to surround myself with such an amazing group of women. The positive impact of the program will go beyond our class with a ripple effect throughout the community. I’m looking forward to pushing myself outside of my comfort zone to practice being vulnerable, learn about my strengths and discover how to be the most authentic leader I can be.
