The best marketers aren’t the ones who know everything; they’re the ones who are willing to learn anything. In this Company Spotlight, we’re interviewing Brooke, a DiRAD marketing professional whose journey has been fueled by a relentless drive to seek out her own answers. We caught up with Brooke to discuss her career philosophy and see how things have changed since her last Company Spotlight.
How long have you been at DiRAD? How has your job evolved/changed?
I am coming up on my 5 year anniversary at DiRAD! I started my journey here managing our marketing solo, focused on establishing our digital footprint from the ground up. Today, I’m incredibly grateful to lead a growing team that has allowed us to take our marketing initiatives so much further. Over the past few years, we’ve expanded our focus to include a community-driven charitable giving program, which has been fantastic for both brand awareness and local impact. We’ve also prioritized attending events and WBENC conferences, allowing us to share our mission with a wider audience and build meaningful professional connections.
Looking back at your career journey so far, what key experiences or decisions do you believe have significantly contributed to your growth?
My growth in the marketing world really stems from a willingness to step outside my comfort zone. Early in my career as a blog writer, the marketing team asked if I’d be open to learning Adobe programs. Taking on that challenge completely reshaped my career path, and it taught me the value of never being afraid to tackle something I’ve never done before.
Are there any skills or knowledge areas you are actively developing or plan to develop to enhance your career/skills in the coming years?
I’m a big believer in continuous learning, especially with how fast the world is changing right now. With AI evolving daily, I’m currently focused on finding smart ways to integrate it into my marketing workflows and staying on top of the latest tech as it drops.
What are your favorite aspects of your job?
I love that my job allows me to interact with so many different departments. The Tech/Operations side keeps us up to date with DiRAD’s product offerings for us to promote, but then we also are heavily involved in team projects and events as well as volunteering. That has us working with people from every department in the company.
Are there any mentors, professional networks, or resources that have been particularly valuable in supporting your career growth, and/or what advice would you give someone seeking a similar career?
Is it weird to say the internet was my biggest career mentor? Especially when it came to design, I learned so much from YouTubers sharing pen-tool tutorials, random forums with HTML fixes for WordPress layouts, or even Instagram accounts like @becauseofmarketing sharing marketing campaigns/trends happening right now. If I could give one piece of advice that applies to almost any career path, it’s this: don’t be too quick to ask others for the answers. Dive in and look for them yourself first—you’ll be amazed at what you can figure out on your own.
In your previous Company Spotlight, you said one of your favorite hobbies is Dungeons & Dragons. Is that still the case today? Any fun campaigns going on?
Our party has taken a bit of a hiatus. As any DnD player understands, scheduling is hard! We recently finished Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden and I’m hoping our next campaign might be Curse of Strahd. It ultimately depends on what our GM is willing to run.
In your previous Company Spotlight, you said one of your favorite quotes was “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” Is that still the case? If so, are there any dreams you’ve brought to life since then? If not, what is your new favorite quote?
I still love that quote! One dream that was brought to life since my last Company Spotlight was visiting Paris for the first time. On our honeymoon in England, my husband and I decided to do a day trip from London to Paris. It was definitely not enough time, so I hope to go back someday!