Jumping Right In

After more than a decade in sales and marketing, I have decided to transition to contract and freelance work in order to diversify my experience, expand my network, and (hopefully) gain career freedom. Here’s my journey so far in embracing and rethinking how I work.

The Decision to Transition

With almost twenty years experience working, and over ten of that in sales and marketing, I’m seeking more variety in my work and empowerment in shaping my career path. This decision was not an easy one, but I am excited to see where it takes me and hopeful this change will lead me to greater professional satisfaction than I have had in the past.

My early career, spent working in inpatient healthcare administration in various Boston-area hospitals, is not reflected on my résumé. However, these years had a huge impact on me – I worked in units with cancer patients and those struggling with substance addiction – the values and perspectives I learned there I have carried with me throughout my life. It has also helped me keep a balanced perspective and not take myself too seriously – life’s too short!

My Marketing Experience

Throughout my marketing-specific career, I have been directly involved in almost all areas of marketing, providing me with an encompassing skill set. From ordering trade show swag to developing new market strategies, I have been fortunate enough to gather a wide range of experiences, including:

• Social Media Management: Developing and executing social media strategies to enhance brand presence and engagement.
• High-Level Strategy: Formulating and implementing high-level marketing strategies to drive business growth.
• Leadership: Leading marketing teams, providing guidance, and fostering a collaborative work environment (in early 2024 I completed Bonfire’s Women in Leadership Signature program)
• Automation Implementation and Management: Utilizing marketing automation tools to streamline processes and improve efficiency.
• Creative Development: Crafting compelling creative assets, including graphics, videos, and copy, to support marketing campaigns.
• Lifecycle Mapping and Messaging: Developing and executing lifecycle marketing strategies to optimize customer engagement and retention.
• Implementing New Technology: Integrating new marketing technologies to enhance capabilities and improve outcomes.

I’m also proud to say I’m Salesforce Certified as an Email Specialist, this certification was a turning point in how I approach marketing and new technology as it enters our world.

Goals for Transitioning to Contract and Freelance Work

As mentioned, I am hoping to achieve a few things with this transition from a full-time employee to contact and freelance work:

1. Variety of Projects: Freelancing will allow me to work on a diverse range of projects across different industries. This variety keeps my work dynamic and continuously challenges me to grow my skills.
2. Professional Connections: This change will give me opportunities to connect with a wide range of professionals and clients. Building these relationships is not only rewarding but also expands my network and opens doors to new opportunities.
3. Professional Freedom: Freelancing gives me the flexibility to choose projects that align with my interests and values. This autonomy has reignited my passion for marketing and allowed me to take my career in new and exciting directions and will allow me to pursue my passion for creating art.

Goals of this Blog

Finally, I want to touch on the goal of this blog. My hope is these posts can serve as insights into past work I have completed, a journal of my contracting and freelancing experience, and to share my learnings along the way (Oxford comma for life).

Stay tuned for more to come!