What A Social Impact Marketing Manager At Discovery Education Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Marketing Industry
Amira, a Social Impact Marketing Manager, advises against limiting career options to one passion-driven industry, stating, "don't feel pigeonholed to one particular industry," because marketing skills are transferable. Amira's own experience transitioning from lower-paying, high-demand entertainment jobs to a higher-paying field demonstrates the value of recognizing one's skills and leveraging them for better compensation and career growth, even if it means temporarily stepping away from a beloved industry.
Career Development, Salary Negotiation, Industry Trends, Transferable Skills, Overcoming Challenges
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Amira Davis
Social Impact Marketing Manager
Discovery Education
University of Georgia - Terry College of Business, 2016
UCLA Anderson (FTMBA 2025)
Marketing
Education
Communication and Marketing
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member, LGBTQ, Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. Marketing skills are transferable across various industries. Don't feel limited to one specific industry based solely on passion; consider the earning potential and growth opportunities in different sectors.
2. The entertainment industry may not always offer the highest salaries due to high demand and competition. Consider the value you bring and be open to pivoting to industries that offer better compensation and career growth.
3. Don't be afraid to leave a job, even if it's in a field you love, if there's a cap on your growth potential. This allows you to gain experience and skills elsewhere, potentially paving the way for a higher position or greater impact in your desired field later on.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish somebody would have told you before you entered this industry?
There are so many things, but I think one of them is don't feel pigeonholed to one particular industry. Marketing is transferable; you can do that in any industry. So, although you may be passionate about something, don't feel you have to build your career in that specific industry.
For a long time, I was just doing sports jobs, moving from job to job. In the entertainment industry, they don't really pay you as much as other industries because the demand for those jobs is so high. They have the ability to control the price they charge in the market.
Because the demand is so high, there will be people they can hire who are willing to take less money to do the same amount of work. Once I understood that and understood the value that I brought, I realized I could pivot into other industries. I could bring these same skills to an industry that isn't based on high demand and get paid more.
It's great to be passionate about something, but also recognize there's an upside in earning in a different place and pivoting. You can always go back to that passion later. I've seen that time and time again, and I learned that from other people, which is why I was able to make that transition later on in life.
They left that job they loved so much because there was a ceiling as far as they could go. Their leaving allowed them to come back and remove that ceiling. This enabled them to promote themselves into a higher position and have more impact.
So, don't just stay somewhere just because that's your passion. Know that you're capable of going other places and doing other things. Recognize the value that you bring to the role.