Alex Montchovsky, CM, MBA, Interim Executive Director at UNICEF and Founder at IAM Fashion Consulting, discusses why chasing Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) leaves you exposed when costs spike and competition intensifies. The real leverage? Brand equity. The real skill? Building it. "Performance marketing captures demand. Brand creates it. Know the difference or get stuck optimizing yourself into irrelevance." That's what's NXT.
The Value of Ongoing Professional Development with Melissa Wagner
How Serious Brands are Losing to Silly Marketing with Connor Conroy
You start scrolling through LinkedIn, Glassdoor and Indeed. That's when it hits you: does this path actually lead where you want to go? Are you even on the right path at all? Suddenly, you're asking questions you thought you'd already answered.
"I love that marketing doesn't force me to pick a lane. I get to be the analytical one who figures out the strategy, but I also get to be the creative one who brings it to life. It's that constant back-and-forth between the two that makes the work actually feel like me." – Sakina, CMA Intern
One piece of advice that stuck with me was to stop waiting until I felt 'fully ready' before taking opportunities. A lot of growth comes from putting yourself in environments that challenge you, even if you're still learning. I've learned that experience builds confidence.
