My first job out of college was at a trailer house. We cut and edited movie trailers for all the major studios and I was an office manager. I actually got the job and started working before I graduated. I had to ask for my graduation day off! It was tough jumping right into working long hours and at such a fast pace, but I learned a lot and worked there for a year before I got my job at Fox.

I was just starting out in my career when the economic recession hit. The turmoil it caused in the entertainment industry was eye opening. I decided to focus my career on an area of growth: digital media. I took my first digital media job with Fox Sports as a coordinator for the Regional Sports Networks. I learned so much about the fast paced nature of digital media—things like figuring out new technologies and finding the best ways to implement them while keeping the integrity of our brand. Later, I was very excited when the opportunity to work at Sony Pictures Imageworks came along. As a digital marketing specialist for film, I am able to combine what I learned about the digital world with my love of film.  

I am on the account management team for film marketing at Sony Pictures Imageworks Interactive. I work with a production team, including designers, developers, social media and copywriters, to produce domestic and international marketing campaigns for Sony’s film slate. Campaigns usually include websites, Facebook applications, promotions, contests, games and email campaigns. I start working on the campaign when the film is in the development stage and we stay pretty close to the project as early as possible so we can start developing strategies and timelines. Next, we start over from the top and work on the international campaign, which can be slightly different.

It is my responsibility to keep a campaign on schedule, on strategy and on budget. I meet with my clients frequently to make sure we are delivering exactly what they request. They can request a new game or website using a technology that we have never used before but we have to dig in and make it happen. We also have to test and assist with development on other websites and applications built by vendors to make sure they are working properly. 

I still have a lot to learn about digital marketing but really, everyone does. An important part of what a digital marketer does is keep up with industry trends and learn to adapt. I try to read tech blogs and sites and keep up with any new technologies. I also follow other campaigns and promotions. Sometimes creativity is sparked by non-entertainment brands, but the most important skill, I think, is the ability to pinpoint your audience. There is so much noise in the digital space that being able to identify exactly who your audience is and then how to effectively communicate with them is key.

The most challenging part of my job is being able to balance competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. I work on multiple campaigns at once, which can have anywhere from 10 to 20 projects each. I have had to hone my decision-making skills in order to make quick choices on major projects. Even small mistakes are costly in time and effort and could throw off an entire project. Being able to decide what the most important thing is right in the moment helps me focus and stay on track. 

My favorite part of my job is when I get to see an idea or suggestion of mine come to life and become part of the mix of a marketing campaign. For example, I worked on the campaign for the film Looper. I managed a six week augmented reality experience called the Looper Network. We would sit and brainstorm ways to make the experience exciting for people interested in the film and then figure out how to make it work on the backend. My team works hard to design and develop these features, which are truly beautiful and innovative. Being a part of that makes me extremely proud.

I generally work on creating branding around a specific film and it’s funny because I get so involved I almost feel sad when the campaign is over. That is, if I really liked the film. However, sometimes the projects I manage actually affect the overall Sony Pictures brand. One of my first projects when I started here was coordinating some of the digital aspects of the Academy Awards campaign. I also managed the Sony Pictures App, which features content across a few of Sony’s divisions.

I think that it’s important to engage with others in your field in order to hear about new industry trends, changes in technology and, keeping it real, to gain contacts for future career opportunities. If you aren’t networking, you are missing out on a huge opportunity. I have met people at networking events that have gone on to make a huge impact in my career and/or become close friends. 

I attend a lot of women’s events since my magazine, Made Woman Magazine, is focused on women’s issues. I also attend a lot of entertainment events and screenings to keep up on the film side of things. LA is a great place to find events that aren’t too stuffy.

We recognized the lack of positive representations of women in all media these days. We felt that we could speak to women in a way that would entertain and inform, while spreading positivity. This little idea became Made Woman Magazine.

Everything I learned in my digital marketing career has helped with my business, Made Woman Mag. They go hand and hand. Things I learn at work about the technical side of digital media can be applied to my efforts with the magazine, and with any other future career choices for that matter. 

I would say the most important thing is to trust your vision. There were a lot of things we didn’t know how to do when we started Made Woman Mag, but we always believed in our vision and worked hard to make that a reality. If that meant learning how to use Photoshop ourselves when we didn’t have money for a graphic artist, we did it. If it meant coordinating a photo shoot with six models, two photographers and no prior experience, we did that too.

That being said, a vision for a company isn’t just a whim you cook up. It has to be a well thought out plan of attack that can be easily explained to others. Once you nail that down, you just have to stick as close to that as possible. Be open to new ideas but don’t let naysayers or setbacks change your vision!

I try not to focus on balance because that never really happens for me. Instead, I focus on planning. I have to really manage my calendars (I have 3!) in order to get in all the things I want to do. However, I’m not all work. I have amazing friends and family that I love to spend time with, too. 

A regular day at the office may include meetings with designers and producers to look at comps of websites or applications. I then have calls or meetings with clients to go over deliverables and timetables. I “meet” (or just chat) with my team (other account managers) constantly so that we can consult on our various projects. Sometimes I have meetings where I have to present a feature or site to clients and/or the head of Sony’s Worldwide Digital marketing team. No pressure, right!?

There are perks though! Sometimes my workday includes screening movies. I also have to spend a lot of time on Facebook and Twitter to see how our applications and promotions are going.

Right now I am enjoying the day-to-day aspect of my career. I don’t have many plans beyond doing what I’m doing now. However, I do hope to build Made Woman Mag into the premier online destination and networking platform for career women.

Well, the best moment of my career in digital marketing would be when we launched the marketing campaign for Looper. That campaign got a lot of buzz online and it was exciting to watch the audience’s response as we got closer to the film’s release. Watching something that I worked on come to life and get so much attention was really exciting. Our team even won a Key Art Award for the Looper site.

The best moment of starting my own business is really every moment. Every success we have or obstacle we get past is memorable because everything is a first. It’s been a great trip! 

Sometimes it’s really hard to turn a passion into a career. You can also have more than one passion—try not to limit yourself. In the beginning of my career I thought, because I was passionate about film, that I had to be a producer. Now I’ve found an area of the industry that suits me even more and keeps me on my toes. As I mentioned before, being proactive is key. I did a lot of internships and side jobs to try to figure out what I wanted to do. Knowing what you don’t want to do is important, too!

To all my fellow entrepreneurs, I would just say never give up. Things get better and easier as you go. I know it sounds simple, but there were times early on where I just wanted to stop working on my side project. I had a good career already and the challenges were immense! But I kept going and the things I have gained from this project are irreplaceable. It helped me build my confidence and learn new skills. It even helped me get my job at Sony! Even now there are trying times, but I just keep thinking “if I keep going from here, imagine where I’ll be in a year...in two years.” And then I get really excited.