Alumni Advice

Written by Claire Leonard

Starting a career in marketing can feel like stepping into constant motion. New clients, fast deadlines and a lot to learn all at once. We asked a few Mizzou alumni what they wish they knew starting out

Amy Meier 

“One piece of advice I’ve learned—especially from agency life—is to never ask someone to do something you don’t understand yourself. You don’t need to be an expert in everything, but having a working knowledge of different disciplines makes you a stronger collaborator and communicator. It allows you to ask better questions, align teams more effectively, and ultimately produce better work.

Communication—hands down. Coming from the J-School, strong writing skills were non-negotiable, and that foundation has been invaluable. Being able to communicate clearly and concisely with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders is critical to moving work forward. Just as important is listening—understanding what people need, asking the right questions, and ensuring everyone is aligned. That balance has been key to my success.”

Paige Hobbs 

“Ask questions! For two reasons— first, everyone already expects that you don’t know what you’re doing so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Second, asking questions either right away or along the way of a campaign helps to show you are interested and that you are paying attention. Plus you never know when your question will spark a larger conversation.

I think the best quality anyone can have in this industry is positivity. The deadlines are quick, the clients are tough but if you can remain positive and are willing to adapt to whatever is coming, you’ll be valuable.”

Anna Duffy 

“My biggest piece of advice for someone starting their career in marketing/advertising/comms is to be open to opportunities that come your way, even if it’s not exactly what you want to do in the long run. I learned so much from trying different student orgs and saying ‘yes’ to opportunities I never previously considered. Especially early on, when networking and building your resume is so important, just say ‘yes!’

Someone in the industry told me recently that ‘20% of this job is skills, the other 80% is being a good person.’ That has stuck with me ever since. You can learn how to organize a spreadsheet, you can learn the adobe softwares, you can learn how to pitch a campaign, but employers can’t teach kindness and work ethic. So an important quality I believe you need to have in this industry is the ability to work well with others and lead with kindness.”

There’s no perfect way to start a career, and that’s okay. Everyone figures it out step by step. What stands out most from these alumni is that growth comes from staying curious, asking questions and being willing to learn as you go. Skills will build over time, but attitude, openness and how you work with others are what carry you forward.