Welcome back to Sophia’s Stamp, where we assess the value of the guest speaker’s information. At Sophia’s Stamp, we determine if the presentation was worthwhile for the students, and I’ll be the judge of that!
Today, our guest speaker was Kayla Stuckart, an award-winning strategic communications leader with 10+ years of experience in the public education and non-profit sectors. Her expertise lies in corporate communications, issues management, branding, marketing, and stakeholder engagement. When she mentioned her love for using digital tools like video and social media, my initial thought was, ‘Oh great, another person who used CapCut once and now calls themselves a marketer.’ I know it sounds harsh, but that was my first reaction. However, as the saying goes, “Never judge a book by its cover.’
Kayla gave great insight into the reality of what freelance work looks like. She went in-depth on the different obstacles that freelancing and sales entail. And she is absolutely right. I work for a promotional products business, and let me tell you, every order has its obstacles, and we are constantly jumping through hoops. She explained that a demanding schedule comes with being a freelancer, and she is 100% correct. Freelancing offers freedom and unique projects but also comes with many challenges, such as managing multiple clients and complex schedules.
Kayla perfectly explained the number one rule in business and freelance: networking is the most beneficial tool in the industry. No matter how well you perform your job, the quality of your personal relationship with your client is most important. Kayla understands that networking is crucial in the world of freelancing as it provides many opportunities and is essential in building strong client relationships.
Also, I was shocked to hear her admit to using ChatGPT to help with her brainstorming process. I find it admirable because a lot of people in today’s society won’t admit to using ChatGPT. I don’t think there should be any shame in it because it’s such an effective tool with great ideas to offer. Why wouldn’t you use it?
Lastly, she emphasized the importance of understanding your demographic when marketing to a direct audience. She explained that different demographics behave and perform differently, which is crucial to understand.
I have to admit that I was wrong with my initial judgment. She is not just another marketer who knows how to use CapCut. She is very knowledgeable and good at her job, and she actually taught me a lot, some of which I already knew. Nonetheless, she knows what she’s talking about.
With that being said, she definitely has Sophia’s stamp of approval!