Lemons to Lemonade: A Marketer’s Journey to Success

Graduating during the final class pre-pandemic was a blessing filled with an unexpected reality and challenges to come. Upon graduating, one is usually excited for all the potential opportunities ahead of them. Unfortunately, for most graduates beginning in 2020 there was no certainty to expect regarding next career steps.

I pursued my undergrad degree in Entertainment Management with a minor in Marketing. I had several reasons as to why I chose my field of study and believed I had a promising career until I didn’t. At the time I believed “events are a significant part of life and there will always be an event to be planned”. A true statement but definitely altered once the pandemic began in 2020.

My professional career began with a one-month contract at GES, a global exhibition and trade show management company. It was an exciting and insightful start although temporary. With awareness of this position being temporary, I applied to jobs and reached out to my network to secure my next position. Thankfully one of my former classmates informed me of an available role at Puff ‘n Stuff, a notable catering and events company in Florida. As I began my first week at the company, it abruptly ended as the pandemic shutdown was announced that Friday during my first week. Completely unaware of the reality ahead, I was upset but hopeful for the future. I was laid off for 8 months and was able to return my position when there was some hope of returning to normal operations.

During those 8 months, the events and hospitality industries along with several others were existing minimally or not at all. This time frame was the catalyst for new thoughts concerning my career and what it would become. I began to think of career options as I hosted at a local restaurant with restrictions and worked a remote job. Once I was asked to return to Puff ‘n Stuff, I was grateful to return to my career and hopeful that this freeze of events was coming to an end. After 4 months, I was laid off again due to the pandemic impacts that remained and impacted the events and hospitality industry.

From that point I returned to remote work and hosting but knew once 2021 began I needed to seriously create a plan for my future. I decided to spend that year enhancing my skillsets in the events industry through internships. I knew that someway the events industry would adjust and survive. In addition to working different positions in the wedding, restaurant, and education industries, I participated in 2 internships: one remote, one in person. The remote internship exposed me to a reality in the events world I did not think to pursue beforehand. I worked with a startup to plan virtual events and to plan events remotely. This opportunity created a shift for me that allowed me to expand my skillset but also opened up doors to a new reality for my career. From that point forward, I refocused my job search on roles that were remote or in person.

During this time, the technology industry was often highlighted as the perfect industry to pivot to due to the remote and hybrid work opportunities. This initiated the turning point in my career where I now believed I could utilize my skillsets towards corporate events and projects. A new career possibility was born for me, one where I would rarely or even never have to work events in person. After some research, I explored options in project management and began to tailor my resume and LinkedIn profile to express my interest in roles in tech.

Shortly after shifting my perspective on career opportunities and adjusting my search for employment, a recruiter found my profile on LinkedIn. I interviewed and received my first role in the tech industry. Three years later and counting, I have successfully established myself as a professional in the marketing and events sector of the technology industry.

Although the path to my success was one filled with highs and lows, it challenged me in countless ways that has molded me into the resilient professional and individual I am today. Graduating and embarking on my career journey during a global pandemic, and one of the most uncertain times of my life, resulted in me learning various life lessons. Here are six major lessons I learned that I share based on my journey to my career success:

1.        Anything you can imagine is possible.

2.        Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

3.        Perseverance creates possibilities.

4.        Patience, consistency, and initiative is key.

5.        There is beauty in change.

6.        You are closer to the goal than when you started.