Her Story
About Octavia
Octavia Hike is a freelance marketer based in Houston, Texas. With five years of experience in marketing, she focuses on marketing strategy, brand development, and creating experiences that make people feel comfortable in any space. Hike previously worked in non-profit and education as a community school coordinator in Baltimore, where she bridged school systems and communities through events and communication initiatives. She also contributed to a successful Amazon Boxing Week campaign for HP that sold over 2,000 to 3,000 items. Hike earned her MBA after graduating undergrad during COVID, which allowed her to attend conferences and serve as a guest speaker. She is a member of the American Marketing Association and National Black MBA, and she volunteers at the Houston Food Bank through her church. Hike attributes her success to her community and values trustworthiness and adaptability in both her professional and personal life.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Octavia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say community. I think that attributes to my success, because there are moments where you can feel like you're alone, or you may not have all the support that you need, and I think it's super important to have... I like to call it board of directors. people in your life are people you can go to that'll help support you, whether it's schooling, work, personal life, and they're there to kind of give you guidance on what's... on what you should do or can do.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I would say... One, it's okay to pivot. And that, you know, do you see... If there's an opportunity, and you know you're the perfect fit for it, don't hesitate to ask. Don't hesitate to... don't... don't ever... don't ever not shoot your shot.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Being okay to always be okay with teaching yourself more, and always be approachable. I think that's super important to know, and if you don't have the skills that someone is looking for, go and go get it... literally going and making the experience for yourself if someone doesn't give it to you.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I would say the biggest opportunity in my field is that you really don't have to have a true 9 to 5 to accomplish... But I feel like a challenge is that with these new technology, too, is that sometimes people don't value how much can really go into marketing, or what are the attributes that make what that person is doing... what they do by hand very valuable.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say... being trustworthy is a big one, and I would say... Being... I would say being... open to adaptability. I think those values helped me a lot with just being in the workplace, and also with friends, and just personally.
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