Alina, Senior Growth marketing Manager at Marketing Agency: Advize Career Interview

A career journey from an unexpected modeling contract in China to a senior growth marketing management role at a US digital marketing agency—this individual's path is both inspiring and diverse.

The interview reveals a career built on adaptability, starting with international expansion work and transitioning into a marketing career.

The role involves managing client relationships, leading digital marketing campaigns, overseeing a team, and collaborating with creative teams.

Success in this field requires technical skills, but even more so, emotional intelligence, strong relationship-building abilities, and a strategic mindset.

A key takeaway is the importance of active listening and questioning to gain a deeper understanding of clients' needs and fostering mutually beneficial relationships.

The interview offers valuable insights into entry-level positions, the challenges of balancing short-term goals with long-term investments, and the rewards of helping small businesses succeed using innovative digital marketing strategies.

The interviewee also shares their experience navigating a career as a woman in a male-dominated industry, emphasizing the importance of finding one's own voice and presence.

Finally, the interview emphasizes the value of pursuing outside projects and broadening perspectives through travel during college to discover passions and career interests.

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Alina FItsai

Senior Growth marketing Manager

Marketing Agency

Irkutsk State University, 2013

UCLA Anderson School of Management, 2024

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Creative Writing, Journalism

Advertising, Communications & Marketing

Communication and Marketing

International Student, Scholarship Recipient, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student

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Career Path Of A Senior Growth Marketing Manager At A Marketing Agency

Alina's career path began unexpectedly with a modeling contract in China, leading to international expansion work for a modeling agency and exposure to diverse markets; this experience eventually transitioned into a marketing career in the US, starting with a startup and culminating in a senior growth marketing manager role at a digital marketing agency, "working with a variety of different businesses and learn[ing] from a lot of other marketers."

Career Path Of A Senior Growth Marketing Manager At A Marketing Agency

Responsibilities Of A Senior Growth Marketing Manager At A Marketing Agency

Alina's role as Senior Growth Marketing Manager involves a dual focus: directly managing client relationships and "lead[ing] their growth strategy in digital marketing campaigns," while simultaneously overseeing a team of media buyers and digital marketers, providing strategic and technical guidance. This includes collaborating with both internal and external creative teams on content and website design.

Responsibilities Of A Senior Growth Marketing Manager At A Marketing Agency

A Day In The Life Of A Senior Growth Marketing Manager At A Marketing Agency

A Senior Growth Marketing Manager's day begins with monitoring "paid media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, or Google" to assess KPIs and budgets. The day then involves internal training, team check-ins, client communication – especially addressing underperforming campaigns – and collaboration with the creative team to ensure alignment and progress toward client goals.

A Day In The Life Of A Senior Growth Marketing Manager At A Marketing Agency

Most Important Skills For A Senior Growth Marketing Manager At A Marketing Agency

Alina, a Senior Growth Marketing Manager, initially believed technical skills and results were paramount, but learned that "understanding every client's needs and fulfilling them" alongside strong emotional intelligence and relationship-building skills are crucial. The ability to take initiative, remain curious, and cultivate creativity, which is further developed through experience, are also key to success in their field.

Most Important Skills For A Senior Growth Marketing Manager At A Marketing Agency

Favorite Parts of Being a Senior Growth Marketing Manager at a Marketing Agency

Alina, a Senior Growth Marketing Manager, most enjoys the collaborative environment, stating "working with so many talented people...learning a lot from people" and the exposure to diverse businesses and creative freedom, allowing for autonomous project execution. This variety, including working with "Founders, Chief Operating officers, chief executive officers, Chief marketing officers," fuels continuous learning and professional growth.

Favorite Parts of Being a Senior Growth Marketing Manager at a Marketing Agency

Challenges For A Senior Growth Marketing Manager At A Marketing Agency

Alina's biggest challenge as a Senior Growth Marketing Manager is balancing "short-term goal orientation" with the necessity of long-term investments, a common tension in digital marketing. Further, demonstrating that the agency is a true team player, not just an outsourced service, requires consistent effort and proving that they care about "your business just as much as you do".

Challenges For A Senior Growth Marketing Manager At A Marketing Agency

Favorite Parts Of Working In Marketing As A Senior Growth Marketing Manager

Alina, a Senior Growth Marketing Manager, finds most rewarding the opportunity to "help small businesses grow and succeed," particularly those with a mission to improve the world. The work also allows for "bold and innovative" digital marketing strategies and holistic business involvement, encompassing aspects like pricing and product development.

Favorite Parts Of Working In Marketing As A Senior Growth Marketing Manager

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Marketing Industry According To A Senior Growth Marketing Manager At A Marketing Agency

Alina, a Senior Growth Marketing Manager, identifies a "strategic mindset" and strong "emotional intelligence" as key traits for success in the marketing industry. This requires long-term planning, tactical execution, and the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams and clients.

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Marketing Industry According To A Senior Growth Marketing Manager At A Marketing Agency

What A Senior Growth Marketing Manager At A Marketing Agency Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Marketing Industry

Alina, a Senior Growth Marketing Manager, wishes they had known the importance of effective leadership, stating "there's definitely a lot that goes into managing your team successfully," and the value of building cross-organizational relationships earlier in their career to gain diverse perspectives and collaboration opportunities.

What A Senior Growth Marketing Manager At A Marketing Agency Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Marketing Industry

Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Marketing Professionals

Alina, a Senior Growth Marketing Manager, highlighted several entry-level roles accessible to undergraduate students, including "intern," "marketing coordinator," "paid social coordinator," "digital marketing intern," and sometimes even "campaign manager." These positions offer a pathway into the field, providing valuable experience.

Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Marketing Professionals

Significant Career Lesson From A Senior Growth Marketing Manager At A Marketing Agency

Alina, a Senior Growth Marketing Manager, emphasizes the significant impact of active listening and questioning rather than making assumptions in both professional and personal settings. This approach, Alina explains, has consistently led to "new learning" and surprising answers, often contrary to initial expectations, significantly improving work and client relationships.

Significant Career Lesson From A Senior Growth Marketing Manager At A Marketing Agency

College Experiences That Helped A Senior Growth Marketing Manager At Marketing Agency Succeed

Alina, a Senior Growth Marketing Manager, recommends undertaking "outside projects" during college to discover passions and explore career interests, citing their own experience with a modeling project that unexpectedly led to talent management opportunities and international work. Broadening perspectives through travel, even domestically, is also emphasized as a crucial factor in career development, contributing to a wider perspective.

College Experiences That Helped A Senior Growth Marketing Manager At Marketing Agency Succeed

How Identity Has Influenced A Senior Growth Marketing Manager's Career At A Marketing Agency

Navigating a career as a woman, the senior growth marketing manager shared that finding one's voice and a comfortable presence takes time and experimentation; the individual noted the importance of discovering what works best, stating, "it's not necessarily to be the loudest or talk the most or be the most aggressive," to feel equally heard and valued in professional settings.

How Identity Has Influenced A Senior Growth Marketing Manager's Career At A Marketing Agency

Advizer Personal Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alina-fitsai/