Her Story
About Mariah
Mariah Swigart founded Swagger Productions five years ago to provide advertising and marketing services to golf brands. After earning an undergraduate degree in elementary education from Arizona Christian University in 2014 and playing college golf, she taught fourth grade for five years and then abroad in Spain, where she began freelance work creating blogs, websites, photography, copywriting, and video content. She later completed a graduate degree in organizational development at Grand Canyon University from 2019 to 2021 while working in higher education, then transitioned fully into golf marketing by leveraging her passion for the sport. As a PGA Associate currently pursuing Class A certification, Swigart hosts clinics and women's events, creates content, and supports junior golf initiatives as an ambassador for First Tee, Youth On Course, and the Play Yellow Foundation. She attributes her success to hard work, clear project vision, and aligning team goals, skills honed during her years in education.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Mariah
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hard work and seeing a direction in which the project is headed. When I work on projects or seeing the vision help brands to grow and develop, I always make sure we're true to the original objective. That goes back to my years in teaching elementary education, developing an objective and working backwards from the goal to be able to get there. Aligning everyone's vision and goals to the same objective and setting smaller goals has been a strength.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received is trying something new and being true to your skills when you take on the new venture. I found so many things that I really enjoyed by being willing to step out of my comfort zone and experience new challenges, which typically happened through my career path and work opportunities.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say first off know your strengths, and a strength doesn't have to be something that you're the best at, but it's something that you enjoy and that you feel like you can do for an unlimited amount of hours. Once you identify that, look for opportunities to continue that, even if it's not paid at first. Showcase your skills and passions, meet the right people who will introduce you to other opportunities. Get experience and from those experiences define your niche even more.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is overcoming the stigma that the golf industry is only for those who fit the mold of a golfer. Brands are trying to break down those stereotypes and let people know golf is a relational activity where everyone is welcome. The greatest opportunity is the trend moving from digital marketing to in-person collaborations and meetups, creating human connection especially in the age of AI.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Authenticity is something that I value a lot and always strive to bring to the table. Honesty and authenticity in sharing opinions is a very important skill set and culture to build because it builds trust. Being open to share everyone's opinion and their perspective is important for a team.
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