Career Path of a Vice President of Marketing at Old Pal
Katie's career journey, beginning with a "training ground" role in Washington D.C. media, progressed through diverse technology startups in interior design and fashion, where they honed operational and account management skills in "true startup environments." This experience culminated in their current VP of Marketing role at Old Pal, a cannabis company, where they initially implemented processes and now leads the entire marketing team after "working a lot with our creative team working on a lot of events working on product product marketing."
Marketing, Technology, Project Management, Entrepreneurship, Leadership
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Katie Skinner
Vice President of Marketing
Old Pal
Georgetown University, 2013
N/A
English
Cannabis
Communication and Marketing
Scholarship Recipient, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Katie's career path highlights a willingness to embrace diverse roles and industries, starting with a generalist role in media and transitioning through operations in tech startups in interior design and fashion before finding her niche in cannabis marketing. This showcases adaptability and a proactive approach to career exploration.
2. Her experience in various startup environments reveals a preference for dynamic work settings and contributing to a company's growth from its early stages. This offers valuable insights for students interested in entrepreneurial ventures or fast-paced professional environments.
3. Katie's journey demonstrates the value of practical experience over traditional internships. Her early career roles provided a foundation in various aspects of business, allowing her to develop a broad skillset and ultimately succeed in a leadership position. This is particularly relevant for students questioning the necessity of internships for career success.
Transcript
Could you walk us through your career path?
My career path really started after college. I played golf in college, so in the summer, I was either traveling for that or working. I honestly didn't do any internships during the school year or the summers after.
I started working in Washington D.C. for a media company right out of college as a media coordinator. I sort of joke that I was the young person in the office who did everything digital that other people weren't comfortable with. I did a little bit of PR support, trafficked ads onto websites, and copy-edited things around the office. It was a good training ground to do a little bit of everything and learn how an office functions and what different departments and jobs actually do.
Next, I moved to Los Angeles and started working for a technology startup in the interior design space. I handled operations there, linking clients and designers with things to fill their space. It was online interior design where you were matched. I handled all the behind-the-scenes operational pieces that brought the design to life and got everything into people's homes efficiently.
I stayed in technology after that, working at a company in the fashion industry. It was a digital tool that brought together retailers and buyers. The fashion industry is set up seasonally with appointments where people fill out orders, often with pen and paper. I worked in account management with L.A.-based brands, teaching them about this digital tool. Instead of writing orders, transactions could be made through an app.
I gained a lot of technology experience in startup environments, which I've come to enjoy. Next, I moved to my current company, a cannabis brand called Old Pal. I was the second full-time employee hired to bring process to everything that was happening.
I handled everything from project management software to sales software, office ordering, and filing for an LLC. I did a little bit of everything to get the business rolling. I started working a bit more on the marketing side, working with our creative team, on events, and on product marketing, both digital and in-store. I've been there for four years now and am currently the VP of Marketing, overseeing the entire marketing team.