How to Get Comfortable Living Outside of Your Comfort Zone with Vanessa Griffiths

MarketingCreative Entrepreneurship
Written By Naomi Haile
 

Listen to the episode on Spotify / iTunes / Castbox / Stitcher / Google Podcasts

Power of Why x Vanessa (3).png

Listen to the episode on Spotify / iTunes / Castbox / Stitcher / Google Podcasts

Vanessa has created many distinct opportunities for greater learnings and growth by saying YES, and then figuring out the details later.

As the co-founder of Gift Better Co., Vanessa is focused on building a corporate gifting service that empowers businesses to build & strengthen relationships while fuelling social impact.

Vanessa graduated from Carleton University’s Communications Studies program in Ottawa and soon after moved to Toronto to delve further into the marketing world. Vanessa has worked in many different industries - from tech to beauty and music, and has led digital marketing campaigns for global brands, leading artists, and high growth tech start-ups.

Vanessa has also guest lectured at the City University of New York, the University of Ottawa and at conferences abroad (make sure to ask her about Tokyo!). And she is focused on her passion for helping brands and entrepreneurs use technology to tell stories and build community.

You’ll learn:

  • Steps to tell your company’s brand story

  • Why great business are bred from solving a customer’s pain points clearly and well

  • How Vanessa started a company that is community-conscious and forward-thinking

  • How to get outside your comfort zone and create opportunities for learning

Looking for something specific? 

  • [5:41] Vanessa started interning (early in her career) at prominent music blogs and publishing companies and helped them with their social media and marketing strategies

  • [7:05] Experience moving to Toronto, building a network and learning as much as possible

  • [9:05] “Make a stranger feel something” through copy and social media strategy

  • [11:00] How Gift Better Co. started from identifying a very specific problem

  • [14:00] Great business are bred from solving a customer’s pain points clearly and well

  • [16:50] Decision to support front-line workers and contributing to the Ottawa Hospital’s COVID relief fund

  • [19:52] How Vanessa approaches career-decisions and skill building in the marketing industry

  • [27:00] How growing up as an athlete played an important part in Vanessa’s career trajectory  

  • [29:30] If you are hesitant to get outside your comfort zone, create accountability mechanisms to, at the very least, get started

  • [33:00] Vanessa speaking on behalf of her former company in Japan

  • [35:00] Vanessa’s take on the future of content marketing

  • [41:20] The benefits of working in marketing, specifically in a startup environment  

People and Resources Mentioned in This Episode

Connect with Vanessa

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Naomi Haile
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