Her Story
About Norma
My career began in journalism, working in magazines before transitioning to the digital space in 1999 when the internet was the next big thing. Coming from Interior Design Magazine, I joined Furniture.com, which was a natural segue. Since then, I've spent over 25 years doing a combination of content marketing and digital marketing, with a real focus on storytelling. My experience spans multiple industries including human capital at Monster.com where I worked for 10 years, starting as a content producer and eventually running the team. I've worked with Healthcare Source on applicant tracking systems, Phillips Lifeline in healthcare, and retail with Blueport Commerce and Staples. For the past 6 years, I've been in fintech. My career goal is really about elevating content marketing as its own channel in digital marketing towards helping businesses achieve their goals. Throughout my journey, I've been guided by important mentors like Professor Mark LeChese who taught me that when you're not learning anymore, that's how you know when it's time to move on, and Dan Miller at Monster.com who impressed upon me the importance of being present for your employees and understanding what they can do.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Norma
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think just keeping going and that desire to keep learning. I think it's really that thirst for understanding and learning. If you keep doing that, if you keep it, it just ends up being a way to sort of motivate yourself. It keeps things moving forward. That self-motivation comes from staying curious and being a lifelong learner. I have a vision for growth and continue to push myself to find out what the next big thing is and really work toward it.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I received was from my college professor, Mark LeChese. I was working at a magazine and thinking of leaving, and I ran into him in Boston. I remember telling him I was thinking about leaving my job, and he said to me, 'Are you still learning?' That's something that I've really kept with me. If you're in a job and you're not learning anymore, that's sort of how you know when it's time to move on. This has been pretty instrumental in guiding my career decisions.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
From a management standpoint, I think the advice I would give is to own what you're asking people for. A lot of times, you'll see managers who will do shorthand or kind of pass the buck, like saying 'the CEO's asking for this, so just do it.' That's not really impactful or helpful to your employees. When you're going to ask people to do things, really be able to show them what the impact their work is going to have and why you're asking them to do it. As you get further along in your career, sometimes that learning needs to come from within, and you can't really expect your job, your employer, or your boss to do that for you. You always need to be, especially in digital marketing, pushing yourself, finding out what the next big thing is, and really working toward it. You can only take one step at a time. All you need to do is that next step to keep moving forward. Know what your priorities are, know your priorities will change, and know that you can just do that next step.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty is most important to me. I value doing things that are actually going to help people. And I think living up to your word is critical. Having integrity means being honest about mistakes and saying when you've made one, learning the lesson and doing better next time. If you say you're going to do something and you can't do it, just say it. It's about being truthful and following through on your commitments.
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