Working at News America Marketing was an incredibly formative experience. News America had a very established sales training program for entry-level sales and marketing students. The transition from college to the real world was incredibly challenging, but having a job surrounded by young, passionate individuals was inspiring. My job as an Account Coordinator prepared me for every single opportunity I have had along the way. The company instilled the art of role playing, cold calling, power pitching and customer service—all skills that are needed daily as an Account Manager at Pinterest. I owe my time at News America for helping me grow into a professional adult.

I feel fortunate that I landed on a career in Account Management, as this was not the plan initially. Upon graduation, I was deciding between sales and PR—eventually landing in a sales job. After years of learning the ropes of a sales organization, I quickly learned that Account Management was right for me. During my time at Facebook, I had the opportunity to work with extremely seasoned Account Managers that made this position into their career, which became the vision for my career path as well.

Working at Facebook was a huge step in my career. Before landing at Facebook, I worked in many different industries doing a variety of jobs. Once I became an Account Manager at Facebook, I knew that I had found the perfect position and industry for me. Both companies are extremely fast-paced, which is something I thoroughly enjoy. While there are similarities between the two companies, I have found a variety of differences as well. The platforms and company values are very different—both extremely inspirational and rewarding companies to work for in their own unique way.

Interviewing and landing the job at Pinterest was definitely one of those “pinch me” moments! The social media world can be fairly small, so I was lucky to have close contacts that worked at Pinterest already. Once I heard that Pinterest was looking to start their Atlanta presence, I knew I had to take a leap of faith and go for it. During the interview process, I focused on being myself and learning about the Pinterest culture. Getting to know about the place you work and the core values are incredibly important when evaluating a career change. One of the main core values at Pinterest is “knit,” which is all about collaboration within different departments at the company. This facilitates a friendly and trusting environment, which I am proud to be a part of.

As an Account Manager, I am responsible for managing my client’s business and day-to-day needs on Pinterest. Growing the business relationship and establishing trust is key in this position. I look at myself as being a consultative expert and partner for my client to learn how to succeed on Pinterest. From managing ad campaigns, providing creative suggestions and educating clients—Account Managers are key day-to-day contacts and drive significant impact. Helping my client’s drive their business forward is extremely rewarding and the part of my position that I take most pride in.

Every day brings something new in the social media space! Staying on top of all product changes is a core component of my job. I am constantly reading internal updates, news articles and blog posts about all platforms to get an understanding of what is new and changing. I also am an avid user myself—nothing beats engaging with the platforms on a daily basis to understand the offerings and complexities.

Being the owner of a small business in Atlanta was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences in my career to date. I opened a small retail store named Woof Gang Bakery that was focused on all-natural pet food, treats and accessories. As you can imagine, I am a huge animal lover, so bringing my dog to work with me everyday was a special treat. Owning my own business taught me the importance of hiring quality employees that you can trust. Since the store was a small local retail store, I also relied heavily on social media to generate buzz and awareness. This skill set and experience is one I leverage often when making recommendations to my current clients.

Throughout every step in my career, I have focused on building strong relationships with both co-workers and clients. Getting to know the people you work with and maintaining those relationships over time are extremely important. These relationships have helped me grow to new industries and positions over the years.

Also, I am a firm believer that nothing speaks louder than hard work. Working hard and getting things done are always appreciated. If you have an end goal or vision for where you want your career to go, work hard and know all of the long hours will help get you there.

Being connected in the social media world is important for staying connected and building new relationships, but also for gathering inspiration. During the first few years in my career, I was constantly reaching out to past co-workers or mutual friends to learn more about their industry and career. Through these connections, I was able to land my dream position at Pinterest! Don’t be shy about asking to grab coffee or lunch with someone you admire—these connections can go a long way and social media is the perfect place to start. Also, start following the people and businesses that inspire you daily. Something as small as one image or post can profoundly impact your day and inspire you to think big.

If you are looking to get started as an Account Manager, I simply recommend gaining experience in the industry. I started working in advertising sales as an intern for MTV.com, where I signed on just for the experience—there was no pay involved. Getting your foot in the door is the most important first step—continue to work hard and a position will follow!

Also, learn the importance of being a jack-of-all-trades. The skills you learn and master along the way will enhance your career path. Stay organized, deliver impeccable customer service and build strong client relationships. These key characteristics are crucial to have when pursuing a career in Account Management.

I have found the key to building strong client relationships is to actively listen and deliver materials and results that exceed expectations. Becoming a trusted advisor to their business takes time, but is the ultimate goal. The more that you can learn about their business challenges and help solve these issues, the better. I really enjoy getting to know my clients on a personal level as well. Meeting for coffee or drinks allows for natural conversation and creates a comfortable foundation for the relationship.

Gosh, every day brings something new at Pinterest, which makes me excited to get to work. Pinterest is growing at a rapid pace and I am honored to be a part of this journey. I am really looking forward to establishing the Pinterest presence in the Southeast and hopefully growing the Atlanta team over the years (which is currently a mighty team of just two)!