How long have you worked for Brightspot? What brought you here?
I’ve been at Brightspot for about a year and a half now. What brought me here was the people, of course, but also getting to be in a role where I had a lot of autonomy and freedom to try new things and plan campaigns based on what we’re seeing in the market or among the prospects we’re marketing to. Running the program in terms of campaigns was an exciting opportunity, and I was eager to jump into that responsibility.
Can you tell me more about your role on our marketing team? What is a typical day like for you?
Every day is really different. I do everything from writing ad copy that’s going to appear on LinkedIn or Google, to working with our BDR team to reach out to folks within particular industries, to following up from an event or planning what we’re going to do at a trade show. It really is super different day-to-day, and I work at the top of the funnel in demand generation. That means I’m involved in anything that drives people to have interest in Brightspot and, hopefully, submit a demo request on our site. That all falls under what I do day-to-day.
What inspired you to become a marketing professional?
I like working on lots of different projects and having a role that blends creativity with numbers-driven goals. Revenue marketing ties those two pieces together really well. You get to be creative and do new things every day, but also have that driving force of hitting a revenue number or achieving an MQL or SQL target with your programs.
Do you have any piece of advice for college students or those who are starting their careers in marketing?
I’d encourage graduates to do a lot of research and talk to a lot of different people who work in marketing, because there are so many different types of marketers who do such diverse things in their roles. Marketing can run anywhere from product marketing, like what Maria Bishirjian (Principal Product Marketing Manager) is doing, to demand generation to content writing. Find the role that fits best with your skills and where you want your career to go. Marketing is often very flexible, and you wear a lot of hats. Do your research and understand what piece of the marketing puzzle you want to fit.
How have you grown professionally since starting at Brightspot?
I’ve grown a lot, thanks in large part to working for Jessie Kennedy (VP, Marketing). First and foremost, I’ve been able to lead a team for the first time in my career, which has been a huge stepping stone and a great experience. I’ve also had the opportunity to take complete ownership of the revenue marketing program, the channels we work on and being the voice for everything we’re doing at Brightspot, which has challenged me to grow.
In March 2025, you traveled to Turin to volunteer with your coworkers at the Special Olympics Winter World Games. You’ll also be volunteering at the upcoming 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in June. What has volunteering for these events meant to you?
It’s been super impactful for me to be a part of something so meaningful for the athletes participating in the World and USA Games, and to see the impact this experience has on them. I’ve carried these experiences into my own life and have volunteered with Special Olympics locally in Austin. Volunteering with Special Olympics is a huge part of why it’s great to work at Brightspot. I’d really recommend that anyone at Brightspot apply for the next go-round in Santiago in 2027.
Besides the people, what is your favorite part about working at Brightspot?
The mission work. The last time I was in Reston, we were putting together materials for third-graders to use when they’re studying their multiplication tables. Lots of companies talk about helping their community, but Brightspot is truly unique in that it walks the walk. We do amazing work within our communities in D.C., Texas, Colorado, Illinois, New York and around the world. Being part of these activities is awesome.
What are your favorite activities or hobbies to do outside of the office?
I love to be active. I run a lot, so that’s a big part of my life. I’m also a really big board game fan. I play Settlers of Catan almost every week with my friends. And I’m a big fan of scuba diving. I try to get down to Mexico, or wherever I can, as much as possible to spend time in the water. It’s a huge passion of mine.
I heard that you’re passionate about traveling. Where is the coolest place you’ve been to recently, and where are you headed next?
I went to Uganda in August 2025, which is probably one of my favorite places I’ve ever been. It’s an incredibly beautiful country, from the mountains down to the lakes. I visited Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where I went gorilla trekking, which is essentially a long hike where you find a family of gorillas and get to stand there with them, take pictures and watch them interact. That was just the most incredible experience I’ve ever had traveling. My next trip is to Panama in June. I’m going to scuba dive for a little bit and then check out Panama City.
What is your favorite movie of all time?
Probably Forrest Gump. I know it’s a classic, but it’s just such a feel-good, cute movie, and you never go wrong with Forrest Gump. So I’ll always turn that on when I don’t know what to watch.
