Hey, y'all. Gabrielle here, and thanks for joining me for today's coffee break. Well, I'm actually here at La Casita Coffee in Rowlett, Texas, with an almond croissant and a latte. I already ate the almond croissant. That was pretty fast. It's like my favorite thing here. But I'm actually here ready to take a break, with Christina Marcelin, who's digital media strategist at Market Scale. We're gonna get to learn more about her as a beautiful person, her background, and just, you know, what brought her to where she is today, as a successful professional. So I'm very excited to chat with her. Christina, welcome. Welcome. Hi. I'm so glad to be with you here today. I also have my husband here. Yay. I know she's been so patient waiting to drink her coffee for to hit record. So we're gonna get to drink our coffee now. I'm I actually, but I already mentioned that I got a sweet potato latte. They have, the seasonal, flavors here and it was like pumpkin spice. I've never seen sweet potato before, so I've never even heard of that. I know. And, like, I don't like sweet potatoes in just eating regularly, but a latte is really good. So I'm really healthy for me too. And they have these really cool cups. It's, like, recyclable and, compostable. So and then it has, like, this I don't know if you can tell. It's like I've never seen a cup like this before. It's quite literally just, like, right there. But Very cool. It's very top. It is very trendy. What did you get? I just have a cold brew here. Very fancy. But you know what? The weather for New York is, like it was forty degrees last week, and it's eighty degrees today. So I was like, I need something cold. Wait. What? That I think I was sick because the weather has been so wonky. It's been up and down. It's been crazy. Yeah. Wow. That is insane. I was gonna say, it's forty degrees and you got a cold brew. Like, that is very brave. Oh my god. It's eighty. It was No. I need some ice today. Eighty degrees. It's hotter than it is here because I'm in Texas. It's beautiful weather, I was gonna say. Not eighty. Yeah. Wow. Maybe you can get a tan before, Halloween comes up. That's crazy. Alright. Well, you know what? We're gonna get started and let our audience know just like you don't. Let's just start with, your name, like, what you do at market scale, where you're from, and just, what your favorite thing to grab at a coffee shop is. Sure. So I'm Christina. I am a digital media strategist at Market Scale. I live in New York, and I grew up in New York. So I've basically been in New York my whole life. At Market Scale, I work really closely with a handful of really awesome clients. One of my favorite things about the job is really building relationships with these clients and getting to chat with them and help bring their vision to life. And I absolutely love when I see content that we've worked on together on LinkedIn, or elsewhere, and that just feels like a really cool moment. But who am I? Great question. I, I Still figuring it out. Yeah. Definitely. I'm still figuring it out. Figure it out. For sure. Let's think. Well, I'm a mom. I have a daughter who's five. She just started kindergarten. So that's been a big transition for everybody. I miss her dearly during the day, but, yeah, I'm really happy for her that she's, you know, all spreading her wings now. So that's my human child. I have two fur babies, Roxy and Chance. One's a little yappy beagle, and the other one's this big doofy, like, hound mix. He is he is my lover boy. He's so cute. Yeah. And then, I'm married as well, and, my husband works in HR. And, oh, we just like to stay active. We have a lot of family around us, so we're always, with family, cousins, hanging out, doing things. We just painted pumpkins yesterday. So I like to get really into the fall activities. So the apple picking, pumpkin picking, all the things. Very nice. Have you gone to, what is it? The the pumpkin patches, like, the little hay rides and things? Yeah. We have that yet? It's like a bit it's a big where you are. It's huge where we are. We have so many I live on Long Island, New York, so there's a ton of farms on the east end. So we went to one of the farms, and it's like a major operation. So there's hay rides, jump things, like, play structures. So we spent, like, probably ten hours in this place all day. My goodness. Yeah. It's like a it's a whole day affair. And we ended up, they had, like, a petting zoo, and you feed the animals. So we did that. We did all the playing, and then we got a pumpkin at the end and did a corn maze. And we were very tired that way. I bet. Wow. Long Island. I've never been to Long Island, but I love your iced tea. There you go. Stay here. Well, you know, I'm curious to know what was your very first job ever. And, you know, it can be first job ever Sure. And then maybe, like, I I'm just always curious to know that, because sometimes it's just so wildly different from what it is we do now as adults. But, or maybe it was, like, I don't know, just, like, the craziest thing ever. I I just always find it a very interesting interest. I kind of stayed in line with my first job ish kind of. So I don't know where this dream I had came from, but I just, like, really wanted to work in one of the big advertising agencies in New York City, and it was just it was so cool to me when I was in college. So when I graduated, that's what I did. I went to New York City every day, and I worked for an agency buying and selling digital media. And it was it was a ride. It was a really great experience, in those advertising agencies. I feel like it's every bit like you see on TV. Right? It's just it's really high paced. It's really high stress. And, the things that I was doing as a really green associate, like, I was really high visibility, really in everything. And while it was super stressful, it was just, like, the most rich and robust learning experience. And I gained so much from working there, and I had an opportunity to work on some really great clients. Ma'am, like, big, agency in New York New York City, very main character of you. I would feel very very main character. That's so cool. It was a lot of fun, and it was just, like, it was so many young people and, coming right out of college. It was it was great. I I really enjoyed it. It's something I always remember. And you you really bond with people too when you're working, like, these crazy hours in these high stress situations. Oh, I'm sure. I'm sure. And that's just really interesting, that, you know, it relates to what you do now. Because some I mean, sometimes people their first jobs are, completely unrelated, but somehow it also lends its skill set to what it is they do. But working in advertising is very, very in line, so that's pretty cool. I mean, what when you I guess you got it right out of college, but what first, like, drew you to that kind of, like, the creative side of advertising? Or what what skills do you have that kind of just, like, drew you to that? You know what? I really I don't know what it was that made me be that I was so attracted to that. I remember, like, vividly though one night I was when I was in college, we drove through the city. I don't know. We're going to some show. And I remember passing remember what show? I'm embarrassed to say. It wasn't Wicked. Wicked's coming up. It was like, you know, like, like, Skrillex. Like Oh. Oh, yeah. I don't think I've never been to a Skrillex show. So, yes, that's where we're heading. And I just remember, for some reason, like, driving driving past Ogilvy, and it was, like, at night in the lights. And I was like, I just I want that. And it was, like, such a weird moment, but I just latched on to that. And I was, like, I'm gonna do that. And, like, I never worked at Ogilvy. I never was, like, the creative, but more on the strategic and media buying and planning side. But I don't know. That just, for some reason, had this, like, movie esque appeal, to me. Uh-huh. So that's what I did. That is very cool. Well, I guess yeah. Because my next question for you was just, I mean, looking back, was there, like, a specific moment or something that, like, just set you on a trajectory, but it was just I mean, it kinda just sounded like chance and then, obviously, you're good at what you do. So it just kinda took off from there. Yeah. And you know what? I had a friend too who worked at the agency I ended up working at. And, she was able to, she, like, recommended me and she really got me, like, my foot in the door there. So yeah. Very nice. And then, I guess you kinda mentioned it before, but, I mean, what have been some of probably, like, you mentioned, like, seeing, the work that you contributed to on LinkedIn and and you're seeing your clients uplift that. But, had there been any super rewarding moments or just projects that in your career, it doesn't have to be at market scale, I mean, anywhere Sure. That you're just, like, really proud of. Yeah. Absolutely. When I was at, Nature's Bounty as brand manager, I worked in the flagship brand there, and I had the opportunity to bring products to market. And that was one of my favorite parts of the job. So as a brand manager, you handled things like the advertising, the digital media, but also I got to work with, r and d and all the scientists and all sorts of teams to bring real products to the shelves in stores and merchandise them. And, that was just so rewarding. And still to this day so there is this product that, I led the development and creation of, and it's, still in Costco today. So every time I go in there, I take a picture of it. I'm like, you're still going strong in here. That's so cool. Good. Yeah. So Tell your kids. It was it's just like, hey. Look. Mom did that. I know. I try I my daughter's like, stop mom. Good stuff. I'm in kindergarten now. Oh my god. This time I'm in kindergarten. I don't know where. I don't know. It's too soon though. That's super cool. Definitely. So I I had I had the opportunity to do to launch a lot of products, but that one is that one feels like my baby, and I feel really proud of that one. As you should. As you should. Well, if you could tell your younger self, one thing, what would it what would it be, do you think, related to career otherwise? I I think just keep things in perspective because I think sometimes in marketing especially, everything feels like a fire drill and everything feels like like the world is gonna end. At least, I feel like that sometimes. And I think, you know, you you have to keep it in perspective a little bit. Like, at the end of the day, you can only do your best. And Yeah. And that's all you can do. And, you know, you can communicate and you can do everything within your power, but at the end of the day, it is what it is. We're not saving lives. That's what we used to say at the agency. We're not saving lives. Like, it's okay. It's okay if we go home right now and come back to this tomorrow. And I think that for me was a really important learning experience. And I had this really fantastic boss, at one of my jobs, and she would always say, like, when I would go on vacation, I'd always be checking in. She's like, stop. She's like, you need to turn your phone off. You need to check out. Unplug. Time unplug. And, just hearing that from the top down was just, I think, really important for me to hear. Because you you feel like you have all these expectations and you wanna, you know, deliver and be a good employee and whatnot. And it's I think it's just, you know, keep it in perspective. No. It's super inspiring. I mean, you always wanna do your best. So and that's all we can do. And, keeping any things in a perspective really helps with that. Well, I guess that kinda plays into my next question, which is, I mean, if you've ever had, like, a mentor or, maybe a higher up that's, given you some wisdom or advice, maybe that stuck with you throughout your career, that maybe has been really helpful. Yeah. I have this, let me try to remember exactly what he said. I reference this internally all the time. I don't wanna mess it up. So, I had a We could do, like, a wheel of wait. Is it wheel of fortune? No. It's how how do I wanna be a millionaire? You gotta do, like, a lifeline. I go call a friend. I wanna be like, okay. Call a friend. Chris O'Connor. What what was that that you sent to me? Okay. So the VP, on my team, he had said one time, he was just stressing the importance of marketing in the organization, and he basically said, like, you're the spoke in the wheel. So you really have to be mindful of all these relationships that you hold because everything is really stemming from marketing. Right? So you you keep the wheel turning. So we are responsible for talking to r and d, sales, you know, the breadth of the organization, finance, whoever it is, and that those relationships are really important. And that's something that has definitely guided my career because relationship building and, just having a good repertoire with everyone that I work with is really important to me. And I I just I think it's so important because I think if you're nice to people, they're gonna be nice back to you. And and I think it's just much more fun and and it's easier to do your job when when you're getting along with people. So that to me was always I always think about that because it it's so true. It is. Oh, across industry. And, you know, this next question that I had, I was very excited to put it in because I love people's answers. But what would you do if you knew you couldn't fail? You know, that question where they're like, what would I do if I knew I couldn't fail? The sky's the limit doesn't have to be career related, you know, secret dream career, like owning a pie shop. That's that's mine. I don't know. You know, I've never really thought about that too much. I think, like, my biggest dream is just to travel and and see different cultures. So if I couldn't fail, I guess I would just be, like, a YouTuber, a TikToker, and, like, just do I'm I'm just saying that because you need to make money. Right? So how you make Yeah. Gambling. Or you could, leave reviews. You can leave reviews of copies and coffee shops. I'll I'll have it my coffee brew business. Speaking of which, do you like your cold brew? I love it. It's good. What kind did you get? Did you get cold foam on it? Or I just I know I asked you at the beginning, but it's just plain cold brew. Plain cold brew with Yeah. And coconut sugar. Have you tried coconut sugar? Oh, I have not tried coconut sugar. I'm trying to figure out ways to like cold brew. The only because my dad loves cold brew, and he's always like, Gabby, have some. But the only way I like it is if it has a ton of, flavored cold foam on top of it. You know? Like, the pumpkin cold foam. That works. But coffee is coffee. You know? Into the fancy sugary sweet potato. But that is super cool. No. That's a that's a great dream. I know what I was thinking too about what you said about what you could do if you would have failed, and I told you I'm bad bad right away. But I was thinking, I'm like, this is definitely more than just traveling. And I think so. I love I really love, art and I love making art and doing art. Yeah. But it's, like, it's a hobby. I'm not I'm not good by any means. I just enjoy the process of doing it. So, yeah, I would definitely pursue that. And, like, I just, started up a watercolor class. I go once a week for four hours, and, the painting I mean, my paintings are nothing special. So I talk with my parents every week and they're like, oh my god. Fantastic. I'm like, thank you. Thank you. Yeah. I do something like that. That's great. I like, you just started it now? Yeah. I just started, a couple weeks ago. I've always I've always done things here and there, but they I saw that they were offering a class by me. I said, you know what? Let's try it, and it's been fun. Why not? That is super fun. I've never taken a watercolor class before. It's hard. Because it doesn't have a lot. I bet I bet it's hard because it's the medium is very, like, it's beautiful when it's done well, but it's, very hard, I I imagine, to control, like, where the color goes in the Yeah. The outlines. The instructions That's super cool. The worst medium there is, but but I love it. Alright. Well, I'll give it a try. I'm very glad you're doing that, though. That's awesome. Yeah. So I think that's what I would do. I take back my other answer. No. It's okay. You can have two answers. The answers can never end. You can always ask. But look at the time. It's almost the end of break time. I don't have a watch. This is where I would check it. You say my coffee is almost gone. Just thank you for joining me on my coffee break today, Christina, and I had a great time chit chatting. Yeah. Thank you so much. This was fun. Of course. And to our audience that's listening in, this isn't the last break we'll have. We'll have many more breaks, so be sure to tune in to Market Scale socials to catch up on the latest and also view more episodes. I've been your host, Gabrielle. Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to go grab a latte so you can have one of these. Bye. Bye. Thank you.
