Could you please share who you are and what you do?
Hi 👋 I’m April, and I am a digital marketing leader with a passion for people, processes, and projects.
With 10 years of experience in agencies and startups, I’ve worked across both B2C and B2B businesses, building high-performing demand generation strategies, scaling teams, and designing efficient processes that drive real revenue impact.
Lately, I’m taking a bit of a breather and considering taking the leap into full-time marketing consulting. Excited to see where this adventure leads.
Outside of work, you’ll find me cheering for Scuderia Ferrari, singing with my choir, and consuming pop culture and the best eats in Vancouver, Canada. Let’s connect!
You’ve worked at startups, agencies, and SaaS companies—which environment do you think shapes marketers the fastest?
For those just starting out in marketing, I highly recommend seeking out agency experience. Agencies provide exposure to a wide range of clients and industries, almost like a ‘taste test’ to help you discover where you might want to specialize long-term.
Working in an agency will also help you build valuable project management and prioritization skills. You will juggle multiple campaigns, tight deadlines, and evolving client needs. Plus, you’ll be surrounded by a team of talented marketers, which accelerates your learning curve.
Agency life can be high-pressure and fast-paced, but the skills and resilience you develop in an agency setting make transitioning to an in-house role much smoother, as you’ll likely find internal marketing teams to be more focused, with longer timelines and deeper ownership over strategy.
I’ve also worked in a lot of startup environments, and we often joke (but it’s true) that startup years are like dog years. The pace is intense, but there’s no environment where you have the opportunity to learn faster or wear as many hats. You get exposure to all functions of marketing, from strategy to execution, which can be incredibly valuable for career growth.
If you’re considering the startup route, I advise having a thorough interview process. Make sure the opportunity aligns with your expectations for work-life balance, assess the management style of your potential leader, and get a sense of the company culture. These factors can make or break your experience, so taking the time to evaluate them upfront can help ensure you’re in the right environment to thrive and prevent burnout.
Finally, what’s your biggest piece of career advice for marketers navigating the AI-driven future of marketing?
Embrace AI because it’s here to stay. The best way to approach it is as a tool to supercharge your own work, rather than something to resist. Even before the rise of ChatGPT, AI was already shaping marketing, especially in performance marketing, with machine-driven bidding strategies and Google Ads campaign types like PMax.
On a day-to-day level, I recommend getting creative with AI prompts. The best mindset is to constantly ask yourself: Am I doing something repetitive that AI could streamline? AI is also great for jumpstarting ideas, but an obvious rule: don’t copy and paste AI-generated content directly into your work. Always review, refine, and make it your own. Think of AI as an efficiency booster, not a replacement.
Personally, I’ve picked up a lot of AI tips from TikTok. Though, of course, take those with a grain of salt. One of my favorite ways to use ChatGPT: Use ChatGPT as a personal assistant through voice mode.