Her Story
About Maddie
Maddie Gainza serves as partner marketing manager in the tech sector, representing Bellevue, Washington. With more than 15 years of experience in marketing, she focuses on partner marketing and relationship building, leveraging her blended sales background to coordinate go-to-market initiatives, events, case studies, and interdepartmental collaborations with partners and vendors. Gainza earned her bachelor's degree in public relations and communications from Washington State, a master's in Communication Management from USC, and project management training from the University of Washington. She also holds certifications including leading conversations, advancing women in the IT industry, revenue architecture, and change management master. An active member of RSPA, she was nominated for the RSPA 50 Under 40 and received the Rising Star Award. Previously, she served on the advisory board for the Edward R. Murrow College of Communications and as a running coach for Girls on the Run. Gainza attributes her success to early self-awareness of her strengths in communication and English over math and science, allowing her to pursue natural career paths that align with her abilities rather than forcing mismatched roles. She values open, consistent, and authentic communication as essential for building relationships and promoting solutions both professionally and personally. In advice to others, she emphasizes embracing non-linear career paths, adaptability in fast-paced startup environments, and resilience while navigating emerging technologies like AI with diligence.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Maddie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to understanding my strengths early on and paying attention to what doesn't serve me. I knew I was better at English than math and science, so I chose paths that felt natural rather than forcing things that would make me unhappy. Self-awareness has helped me make decisions that align with my natural abilities, allowing me to have fun and be effective in my career instead of slogging through something that doesn't fit.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is that it's okay to be exactly where you're at and that it's fine if your path isn't completely linear. Don't chase titles or salary within a certain timeframe; give yourself grace to grow in unexpected ways. I started in senior living and ended up in tech, which shows that being open to new opportunities when you have that gut feeling is important.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If you're entering tech, be ready to move fast and be very adaptable, especially in a startup. Be a team player, wear more hats than your job description implies, speak up for yourself, and hold your own when you get a seat at the table. Building resilience is really important because things move very fast.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is being really careful about how we use AI in marketing. It's moving very fast and while it can be a huge time saver for research and strategy, you still have to put in the work because garbage in, garbage out. There's also a risk of people mistrusting content created by AI, so diligence is key.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Communication is the most important value, as it's been a common thread throughout my career and education. Being collaborative and having open, consistent, authentic communication helps promote solutions and build relationships, whether professional or personal. Without it, relationships don't grow.
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