Emily Ann Kolvitz, Content Manager, is head of content strategy at Bynder! In the past she has also worked as a digital asset manager for JCPenny and, in a very Indiana Jones twist, as a project archivist at the Oklahoma Historical Society. Throwing axes, and riding motorbikes, in her spare time, she's one fedora away from the real deal.
Jobs in Martech are always super layered and complex. Your position is no exception! So to make things a little bit clearer, could you describe your role in five words or less?
Crafter of copy and content
What is your biggest martech/ marketing ops gripe? Don’t hold back!
Spending time on manual tasks like copying and pasting copy into our CMS or spending time manually pulling reports. I'm energized by creative tasks and mostly by writing, so spending time on manual or repetitive tasks drain my energy completely.
It’s a bit 2008, but do you have a personal mantra?
It's more of a shared mantra with family and friends: "Always be clutchin'" Which means always go for the win/the kill shot in competitive axe throwing.
Have there been any women along the way, who have helped you out and supported you?
My former boss who was VP of brand and comms at Bynder. My mother. My colleagues. I think there's always women along the way that leave you thinking why didn't you do more to encourage and mentor others? I can think of a few women who I was eager for mentorship from who were working in martech who wouldn't give me the time of day. I think that's a shame and we should all do more to be supportive of other women - especially if they are explicitly seeking mentorship.
How do you see the martech scene in the Post-Covid days? Apart from everyone going straight to the pub, of course.
More authentic, more humane behavior. Have you noticed it's easier to have a real conversation with people these days? It's like COVID took away inhibition about being vulnerable.
What are your own plans Post-Covid? Are you looking forward to being back out, or are you enjoying the Netflix binges?
Travel. I really miss traveling - seeing my colleagues from other offices, visiting new places, having new experiences, trying new foods in new countries. As a mom, and also as a mom that was working at home pre-covid, I found that it was hard for me to keep my sense of self as I had previously. The line between mommy and Emily definitely blurred in a way that made things feel unmanageable. I need me time. I miss going to the commercial gym, putting my headphones in, and just focusing on me for an hour. I have space to work out at home but it's not the same experience.
What career advice would you give to your younger self, on how to succeed in marketing and tech?
To be yourself to the fullest. Not everyone is going to like you and that's cool. In the words of Dave Skylark, "They hate us, cause they ain't us." or "They're peanut butter and jealous." It might give you a laugh, but more importantly, remind you of who you are.
Who are the professional women that really inspire you?
The women I work with. My sister. My mother. My mother-in-law.
What are your plans for the future? By this I mean what are your upcoming projects, and what are you having for dinner?
Scale our localization of content, launch a new campaign, eat something vegan (Tired of the what's for dinner question - try a new diet and get a magazine of recipes!)
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