Lydia Bryda

If I had to name one attribute that's driven most of my success, it's adaptability. I keep a sign next to my desk that says "everything is figureoutable," and I genuinely live by it. My higher-ups have pointed out, more than once, that my ability to pivot, to "make it work," is what sets me apart in this field.

Anyone in content marketing knows nothing ever goes exactly to plan. Budgets shift, priorities change, actors drop out the day before a shoot, the unexpected shows up right when you least need it. So I've learned to always have a Plan A, B, and C, and more importantly, lead with the confidence to execute even when I have to think on my feet. That mindset will take you further than any perfect plan ever could.

The best advice I've ever received is not to take things personally. My theater kid background is showing here, but just because someone critiques a piece of work - whether that's a strategy, an idea, a campaign, anything you've put together - doesn't mean it's a personal attack. Digest the feedback, adapt, learn from it, and improve.

My advice to young women entering the marketing industry is simple: never forget your value. It's a bit cliché, but imposter syndrome runs rampant in this industry. Honestly, even I still feel it at times. Not every success will get a pat on the back or win an award. A lot of the best work you do will go unnoticed by anyone but you. That's the nature of being a working adult most of the time.

It doesn't make you less humble to be your own advocate. Know when you've contributed something valuable, and don't wait for someone else to hand you that validation. Celebrate your own wins, keep a record of them, and let that be what keeps you moving forward. The people who last in this industry aren't the ones who have never doubted themselves or experienced imposter syndrome; they're the ones who keep going anyway.

The biggest challenge in the content marketing field right now is defining what "successful" actually means and getting others to see it the same way. The catch is that "successful" looks different depending on who's judging it. Not everything you create will win over an executive, and what people in the company but outside of marketing personally like about an ad isn't always what actually performs. Knowing where that balance sits, and who you really need to convince to move the business forward, is the real work. It's less about making something everyone loves, and more about making something that works, and then making the case for why it does.

The values most important to me, in both work and life, are growth and gratitude. I've seen a lot of growth in both areas over the last five years. From promotions and increased responsibility at work, as well as simply blossoming into adult life after college.

Support from my circles plays a huge role in my appreciation for that growth; they never let me forget how far I've come. It's important to me to stay grateful for the people who helped me get here and for the setbacks too. Each road bump is not a roadblock, and they've all made me stronger, smarter, and more ready for the next obstacle.