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Amanda, Associate Director of Brand Marketing at Free People: Advize Career Interview
A career in fashion marketing offers exciting possibilities, as evidenced by the Associate Director of Brand Marketing at Free People.
The path to this role involved diverse experiences, from internships at prestigious companies like Giorgio Armani and Polo Ralph Lauren to roles in entertainment and cannabis marketing.
The position demands a multifaceted skillset encompassing strategic thinking, creative campaign development across all channels, budget management, and strong team leadership.
A day-to-day routine varies greatly, from high-level meetings to on-location shoots, showcasing a dynamic work environment.
Success requires a proactive approach, a strong aesthetic sense, the ability to identify talent and emerging trends, and the resilience to navigate industry challenges and complex relationships.
Entry-level opportunities abound in retail, internships, and coordinator roles across various departments within fashion companies.
The most impactful lesson learned was the importance of cultivating and maintaining professional relationships through kindness and honesty.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Amanda Jimenez
Associate Director of Brand Marketing
Free People
New York University
UCLA Anderson School of Management - MBA
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Communications
Retail
Communication and Marketing
None Applicable
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Career Path of an Associate Director of Brand Marketing at Free People
Amanda's career path, beginning with internships at iconic companies like Giorgio Armani and Polo Ralph Lauren alongside a stint at Groupon during its IPO, demonstrates a willingness to explore diverse fields. This ultimately led to a role at Free People, following experiences in "the New York grind," entertainment marketing at CAA, and the fast-paced world of cannabis marketing with MedMen, showcasing adaptability and a drive to "marry brand, talent, and entertainment."
Main Responsibilities of an Associate Director of Brand Marketing at Free People
Amanda's Associate Director of Brand Marketing role at Free People involves overseeing "all of the day-to-day marketing activities," including brand partnerships (like the Hoka collaboration), talent management (from athletes to celebrities), social media strategy, PR, experiential marketing (with "hundreds of stores" and large-scale events), and creative campaign development for all print and digital channels. This diverse portfolio highlights a career path managing significant marketing budgets and teams across various channels to achieve a cohesive brand vision.
A Day In The Life Of An Associate Director Of Brand Marketing At Free People
Amanda's role as Associate Director of Brand Marketing at Free People offers extreme variety; one day might involve a "social shoot on a tennis court," while the next could be a "board meeting" with the executive team. This unpredictable nature, requiring a strong team to manage daily operations, allows Amanda to balance high-level strategic work with exciting on-location shoots.
Most Important Skills for an Associate Director of Brand Marketing at Free People
Amanda, Associate Director of Brand Marketing at Free People, emphasizes the importance of long-term strategic thinking, "understanding that sometimes in the short term you're going to have to make some compromises," while also navigating diverse team inputs and exhibiting creativity, even within budget constraints; this resourcefulness, and ability to execute quickly are vital to success in the fast-paced marketing world.
Favorite Parts of Being an Associate Director of Brand Marketing at Free People
Amanda, Associate Director of Brand Marketing at Free People, most enjoys the ability to "cold email someone with an idea," highlighting the excitement of pitching "out of the box ideas" and building the supporting business case for their implementation. This demonstrates a proactive and creative approach to marketing within the company.
Biggest Challenges Faced by an Associate Director of Brand Marketing at Free People
Amanda's biggest early career challenge as Associate Director of Brand Marketing was mastering profit and loss ("p&l") management, requiring long hours and developing the ability to "defend and support" creative asks with financial justification. A persistent challenge throughout Amanda's decade-long career involves navigating the complexities of working with celebrities and mitigating potential brand damage from their actions.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Marketing And Fashion Industry According To An Associate Director Of Brand Marketing At Free People
Amanda, Associate Director of Brand Marketing at Free People, highlights the importance of a "clear point of view" and strong aesthetic sense in fashion marketing, along with the ability to "spot talent" and "see trends." Success also demands resourcefulness, curiosity, and proactive engagement with the industry, such as "go[ing] to a gallery" or "meet[ing] with people who work at other companies."
What An Associate Director Of Brand Marketing At Free People Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Fashion Industry
Amanda, an Associate Director of Brand Marketing, advises aspiring fashion professionals to develop a strong vision and strategic approach, as "the fashion industry can be really cutthroat," with "not a lot of intellect or basis to back it up." Success requires building strong relationships and developing a "backbone and a really strong sense of self" to navigate the industry's unique challenges and egos.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Fashion Professionals At Free People
Amanda, Associate Director of Brand Marketing at Free People, highlights entry-level opportunities in fashion and marketing, emphasizing retail roles as a common career path: "a lot of our corporate team actually started working in the stores," with internships and coordinator/associate positions across departments like design, merchandising, social media, and PR providing further avenues for undergraduate students to gain experience and potentially advance within the company.
Top Career Lesson From an Associate Director of Brand Marketing at Free People
Amanda's most significant career lesson involved mastering relationship management, a skill learned through "managing relationships and balancing them," especially during a career transition where they worked with the same client. The Associate Director of Brand Marketing at Free People emphasizes the importance of "being kind and honest," even when delivering difficult news, to maintain professional connections and build authentic relationships.
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