Cristy Garcia

I'm fortunate to have multiple layers of support that really fuel my growth. On the professional side, I have colleagues and coworkers who push me to think differently; people I can bounce ideas off of and learn from daily. Beyond that, I've been lucky to have mentors who've taken time to guide me, offer perspective when I'm stuck, and help me navigate challenges. That kind of institutional knowledge and outside-in thinking is invaluable.

But equally important is my family. They've been a huge anchor—both in celebrating wins and providing stability when things get difficult. They keep me grounded.

That said, I think what really sets me apart is that I genuinely love what I do. It's not just a job I show up to; it's something I study, think about, and experiment with outside of work too. I read about trends in my field, I follow what competitors are doing, I'm always trying to understand the why behind decisions. That intrinsic motivation, that genuine curiosity and passion for the work, plays maybe the biggest role. When you actually care about getting better at something, you naturally seek out mentors, you learn from colleagues more deeply, and you're more resilient when things are hard. The support system amplifies that passion; it doesn't replace it.

Be yourself because no one else can be you. Don't get caught up comparing your journey to someone else's success. Instead, focus on understanding what you do best and lean into that. Bring your unique strengths to the table. That authenticity is what creates real impact.

Find something that only you can do, something that plays to your unique strengths and perspective, and then dig your heels in really deeply. Become exceptional at it.

Here's what I'd warn against: don't make your goal reaching a certain title. I see a lot of women get caught in that trap, thinking 'I need to be a VP' or 'I need to be a director.' But a title is borrowed. You can lose it. It doesn't belong to you.

What belongs to you is your excellence. Your expertise. Your reputation for doing something really, really well. That's what stays with you through every role, every company, every chapter of your career.

So shift the goal: not 'reach this title,' but 'become the best at what I do.' Be so good at your craft that opportunities find you. Be so trusted in your area that people want to work with you. That's what creates real career momentum and real fulfillment

The challenge: everyone's trying to master AI, but no one fully understands it yet, so you're learning, onboarding, and training all at once. The opportunity: this is the best time to be a marketer. Technology automates the manual work, freeing us to focus on strategy and impact. Marketing is becoming integral to the business—that's where the real power is.

Honesty is foundational. In business, you can't build anything real on a shaky foundation. That means being honest with your team about challenges, honest with clients about what's possible, and honest with yourself about what you don't know. It's actually faster in the long run—no miscommunications, no surprises, no wasted time on misaligned expectations.

Work ethic is non-negotiable. You have to put in the effort. There's no shortcut to excellence or real success. But it's not just about grinding, it's about working smart and staying committed even when it's hard.

And then supporting others. I genuinely believe what you put out into the world eventually comes back to you. If you lift people up, mentor them, genuinely invest in their growth—that investment compounds. You build loyalty. You build a network of people who want to see you succeed too. But more than that, it's the right thing to do. We're all trying to figure this out, and the people who help others along the way create better organizations and better communities.

These three things reinforce each other. Honesty builds trust. Work ethic earns respect. And supporting others creates a culture where everyone wants to do their best. That's how you build something that lasts.