Mikayla Baker

I attribute my success to growing up in a very strong-minded family of Italian women who taught me to never doubt myself and to believe that I'm capable. They instilled in me the understanding that life is only going to give me what I put into it, which has driven me to work hard and pursue my goals with confidence. My family and friends have always been there to support me in my dreams and my paths, providing the encouragement I needed to take risks and achieve things like publishing my first book at 19. I've also been fortunate to have incredible mentors, like the author who was my teacher's assistant in third grade and helped me publish my first small book, and the professors in college who supported me heavily when I published Phases during my sophomore year. Having this strong support system from my family, community, friends, and professors has been instrumental in helping me accomplish what I have at such a young age. I'm really grateful for all of them.

The best career advice I've received came from the strong-minded Italian women in my family, who taught me to never doubt myself and to believe in my abilities. They told me that I'm capable and that I have to put myself out there, because life is only going to give me what I put into it. This advice has been foundational for me - it's helped me stop doubting myself and just commit to achieving my goals, like when I decided to publish my book. Their encouragement to believe in myself and work hard has guided everything I do.

My advice to young women is to just be delusionally confident in yourself. Never think that you can't do it, and never apologize for taking up space, sharing your ideas, or pursuing your goals. Confidence is something that grows through action and experience, so don't wait until you feel ready - just start. I believe that if you're authentic and believe in yourself, you don't need to apologize for being who you are or for going after what you want. Trust yourself and your abilities, and don't let doubt hold you back.

One of the biggest challenges in digital marketing is that everybody thinks they're a better marketer than everybody else - everyone thinks they know what's best in marketing. Digital marketing is also such a rapidly growing field, especially with all the innovation of AI, which means things are constantly changing. The key to success is taking everything with a grain of salt and adapting every single day, because that's what really makes a good marketer. The challenge isn't just about facing obstacles - it's about how you turn a challenge into an opportunity. Those who can stay flexible and evolve with the technology and trends will be the ones who succeed.

The values most important to me are authenticity and passion. Authenticity is a big one for me because I believe in being true to myself and my work. Passion is equally important because it's easy to lose passion about things, so I make sure that I'm still passionate about my work and the things I'm putting out into the world. I also value community and giving back - I've been volunteering at my local food pantry since middle school, and I work with nonprofit organizations like the Save the Cupola Project because I believe in using my skills to make a meaningful impact. My family and friends have always supported me, and having that strong support system has shaped who I am and what I value.