Gina Bolger

I attribute my success to staying curious and being willing to continuously learn and adapt. Marketing, business, and consumer behavior are constantly evolving, and I've always believed that if you're not learning, you're falling behind.

I'm also a connector by nature. I genuinely enjoy getting to know people, understanding their businesses, and finding opportunities where we can create value together. Many of the best opportunities in my career have come from relationships, not boardrooms.

One of my favorite examples is our partnership with Garrett Popcorn. It started with a simple conversation while we were seated next to each other at a Cubs dinner. As we talked about our businesses, the idea of putting Home Run Inn's signature seasoning on Garrett Popcorn naturally emerged. Two years later, we launched the product nationally, and today we're even exploring opportunities to take it internationally.

That experience reinforced something I've always believed: when you're curious, build authentic relationships, and focus on creating win-win opportunities, great things tend to happen.

The best career advice I ever received came from my dad when I joined Home Run Inn after college.

I came in excited to build marketing databases, launch email campaigns, and implement new strategies. He listened and then told me that before I did any of that, I needed to get out into the world and build relationships. That advice has shaped my entire career. I've learned that the best opportunities come from listening, being curious, and getting to know people.

My dad taught me that business is ultimately about relationships, and that's a lesson I've carried with me ever since.

I think marketing has evolved tremendously. My biggest piece of advice is to learn how to measure everything and understand the business—not just the brand.

Today's marketers need to be just as comfortable talking about ROI, analytics, customer acquisition, and profitability as they are talking about creative campaigns. AI is going to make many aspects of creative execution faster and more efficient, but I don't see it replacing the need for strategic thinking or envisioning what's coming up next.

The next generation of marketing leaders will be those who can combine creativity with analytics. Everything is becoming more measurable, so understanding how to evaluate performance and connect marketing efforts to business outcomes will be a critical skill.

For someone just starting their career, my biggest piece of advice is simple: stay curious. Ask questions. There really is no such thing as a bad question when you're trying to learn. Some of the greatest opportunities in my career have come from asking questions others were afraid to ask. Curiosity is one of the most valuable qualities you can have because it's what drives continuous learning and growth.

Marketing is constantly evolving, which is one of the things I love most about it, but it's also one of the biggest challenges. You have to stay ahead of what's next. Right now, that's AI. If you're not actively learning how AI is changing marketing and consumer behavior, you're going to fall behind. The pace of change means you have to be curious, adaptable, and committed to continuous learning. That's probably the greatest challenge in my industry and in my role- making sure I'm always looking ahead rather than reacting to what's already happened.

On a personal level, my biggest challenge is prioritization. There are never enough hours in the day, so I've had to become very intentional about where I spend my time. It's about knowing which initiatives deserve my attention, which meetings I need to be in, which ones I can delegate, and making sure I'm focused on the work that creates the greatest impact.

The values that are most important to me are family, pride, grit, and courage. These are the same values we've built Home Run Inn around for generations.

Family comes first because relationships are at the heart of everything I do. Whether it's my own family, our employees, our customers, or our business partners, I believe the strongest organizations are built on trust and genuine care for people. Pride means taking ownership of your work and always striving for excellence. If you're going to put your name on something, you should be proud of it. Grit is about perseverance. Building a business, growing a brand, or leading through change is never easy. You have to be willing to roll up your sleeves, stay resilient, and keep moving forward even when things get difficult. And finally, courage. Courage means asking hard questions, stepping into uncomfortable situations, challenging the status quo, and embracing change. Growth doesn't happen without a willingness to take thoughtful risks, and I believe some of the greatest opportunities come from having the courage to try something new.