From Hustling in Marketing to Building My Own Space
I have worked in marketing for a while now. My career did not start in one straight line. It moved between agency work, tech support, and client management. I landed my first job out of college at an agency in San Diego where I learned the basics of handling clients and managing campaigns. It was short-lived, but it planted a seed.
From there, I took a quick detour into web hosting support for a SaaS company. Another short stint, but full of lessons. It was not until I joined a company that believed in me that everything began to make sense. I had room to grow, experiment, and thrive. That job gave me more hands-on experience than any classroom ever could.
Learning Through Change and Challenge
Everything changed during COVID. The marketing and manufacturing space was hit hard, and I found myself back on the job market. That is when I joined Starfire Direct. It was a shift into ecommerce, and it transformed my career completely.
At Starfire, I went from Marketing Manager to Director of Marketing. I led strategies that directly impacted millions in revenue. I learned how to make big decisions, report on meaningful KPIs, and collaborate with senior executives. It was intense and full of growth.
“Growth and comfort do not coexist.”
– Ginni Rometty
Eventually, Starfire was acquired by a private equity firm. The first round of layoffs came quickly. Half of my team was gone. Then it was just me and one designer. Together, we handled everything related to marketing and tech for a large ecommerce operation.
The Layoff That Sparked a New Beginning
Just a few weeks ago, I was laid off. It was unexpected, and it took time to process. Once I did, I jumped into the job market and started applying. The rejection emails came fast. No interviews, just system-generated messages saying they were moving forward with other candidates.
I refined my resume, updated my LinkedIn profile, and still nothing changed. While researching what else I could do, I came across a video of a CMO reviewing resumes. His advice was simple but powerful. He suggested having a personal portfolio website. That moment shifted everything for me.
Why This Website Exists
This site is more than just a portfolio. It is my professional space online. It is a place I can control, improve, and use as a hub for everything I have done and learned. I built this site not only to showcase my work, but also to help others who may be facing similar challenges.
I have launched brands, built ecommerce systems, and managed performance marketing. But creating something for myself is personal. It means something more. And it is long overdue.
What Comes Next
As I continue the job search and keep growing my personal brands, this website will be my creative and professional outlet. I plan to share marketing insights, tools, workflows, and honest stories about this journey. Everything I have learned, I want to pass along.
There is someone out there feeling stuck or unsure of what to do next. If this site helps even one person realize that they can keep going, then it is already a success.
Final Thoughts
Launching this site marks a new chapter. I believe in building things that matter. This site is not just a collection of projects. It is a reflection of my resilience, creativity, and forward motion.
Thank you for being here. I hope this is the start of something great.