Finding My Footing In FinTech (and Life, Too)

Most of my life has been fast-paced, from middle school to now, I’ve learned to adapt quickly. Professionally, this came in the form of accelerated programs and extracurricular activities. Personally, it was the (fun) reality of being one of four children. Growing up, something was always happening—whether it was award ceremonies or baseball games, we were always on the move. My three brothers have provided guidance and inspiration in my professional journey. All of my brothers have followed a similar path (or are planning to) that includes way too much math and technology for my taste. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel any pressure to follow a similar, tech-related path. However, I found my footing in tech during my summer interning at a local company in Kalamazoo, SalesPage. 

Finding SalesPage

SalesPage specializes in working with asset managers to enable their distribution. I was drawn to SalesPage for several reasons. The first reason is the complex nature of financial technology. I found myself enjoying trying to solve the scrambled Rubix cube that is effectively marketing with the financial technology. Not only did this role allow me to stretch my muscles within integrated communications, but it also required me to spend time truly understanding the product we were marketing. The attention to detail required to succeed in this role is a skill that's only grown over time in this role. I also find this skill bleeding into my life, making me a more thoughtful peer, sister, friend, and daughter.

While many companies tout inclusive and supportive environments, it’s an entirely different thing to provide this experience to every employee in the company, interns included. SalesPage excelled at providing interns with a welcoming and supportive environment. FinTech, and tech in general, is an incredibly fast-paced environment where I thrive the most. I loved being allowed to prove myself. As a member of a smaller marketing team, I was given opportunities to grow and learn from the beginning of my internship. From managing our social channels to writing blogs to creating content for outreach campaigns, I was able to dip my toes into a little bit of everything. 

Through this role, I felt empowered to dip my toes into areas I didn’t have a lot of experience with, such as project management and internal communications. I found that the more I said yes to, the more I learned, and the more impact I had. With the empowerment of my supervisor, I began to transform into a more confident version of myself. Not only professionally did I feel this growth, but personally as well. 

Navigating the Learning Curve 

This experience did not come without challenges. While learning the ins and outs of FinTech was empowering and interesting, it also came with doubt. Doubt about the copy I wrote for social media, or how I referred to unfamiliar products. As a communications-based professional, it can be easy to feel as if you are on the ‘outside’ of a company while working in-house. There were times when I felt myself struggling with imposter syndrome. While I’m still new to FinTech, I find it crucial to acknowledge what I do know just as much as what I don’t. These reminders for myself are instrumental in remaining confident. Despite my challenges, I find that marketing and communications in tech is exactly where I’m supposed to be. My unique blend of personal and professional experiences has given me a skill set that is highly compatible with marketing within the tech sector. 

Building My Confidence (One Step at a Time)

Building my confidence in my abilities has been a lifelong journey, but over the last 6 months, my confidence has soared. SalesPage has only served to accelerate my growth. Approaching this internship with a growth mindset significantly improved my experience. By being willing to learn and caring about the work I was doing, I was able to continue my internship during the school year, which has resulted in transitioning into a part-time role as a marketing coordinator while I complete my degree. 

Professional and personal life are deeply intertwined, and oftentimes, our professional interests are driven by our hobbies outside of work. Before my internship at SalesPage, I would have never described myself as someone interested in coding or technology, but somewhere along the way, I found my niche within the world of technology. Growing up in a fast-paced environment with brothers who were interested in tech and STEM gave me a springboard into understanding FinTech. As my journey with SalesPage continues, I have a deeper understanding of my interests within integrated communications and where my strengths lie outside of the classroom.

About Ana

Ana is a senior studying Advertising & Public Relations with a minor in writing. She currently serves as the COO of GrandPR, where she leads with a focus on innovation and collaboration. As a Marketing Coordinator at SalesPage Technologies, Ana combines creativity and strategic thinking to achieve company goals. With graduation on the horizon, she is eager to leverage her skills in a role relating to content and project management.