Before I founded Chabot Business Solutions, I had the opportunity to experience digital marketing from another perspective.
I joined a technology company as a Strategic Relationship Manager, working on the agency side of the business.
It was fast-paced.
Collaborative.
Demanding.
And one of the best educations I could have received.
For the first time, I wasn’t simply focused on marketing campaigns.
I was working behind the scenes with engineers, designers, developers, strategists, and client teams to deliver customized solutions.
That experience fundamentally changed how I think about serving clients.
Great Marketing Is Never a Solo Effort
One of the biggest lessons I learned was that successful marketing rarely depends on one person.
Behind every successful website launch, SEO campaign, or digital strategy is a team of people bringing different expertise to the table.
I worked alongside engineers solving technical challenges.
Designers creating intuitive user experiences.
Strategists aligning marketing with business goals.
Account managers ensuring clients felt informed every step of the way.
Watching those teams collaborate taught me something I still believe today.
The best results happen when everyone shares the same goal.
That’s why I approach client relationships as partnerships rather than transactions.
Listening Is Just as Important Internally
Working with our clients also taught me the importance of communication.
Success wasn’t simply about delivering a project.
It was about understanding expectations, translating technical information into language clients could understand, and making sure every team member was working toward the same outcome.
Those experiences reinforced another lesson that continues to shape my business today:
Clear communication builds trust.
And trust builds long-term relationships.
Innovation Requires Curiosity
Agency life also introduced me to an environment where experimentation was encouraged.
We constantly tested new ideas.
Analyzed data.
Refined processes.
Adjusted strategies.
Failure wasn’t viewed as something to avoid.
It was simply information that helped us improve.
That mindset has stayed with me throughout my career.
Whether I’m helping a client integrate AI into their marketing, improve SEO, redesign a website, or launch a new advertising campaign, I’m always asking:
“How can we make this better?”
Marketing isn’t static.
Neither are the businesses we serve.
Learning to Advocate for Myself
One experience from that chapter still stands out.
During salary negotiations, I was offered less than I believed reflected the value I brought to the organization.
Instead of accepting the first offer, I respectfully explained why I believed I deserved more.
The conversation continued.
Eventually, the answer came back:
“Okay, you got it.”
It wasn’t simply about compensation.
It was about confidence.
That experience taught me the importance of knowing your value and advocating for it.
Today, I often encourage business owners to do the same.
Whether you’re pricing your services, communicating your expertise, or investing in your business, confidence matters.
People tend to value businesses that clearly understand their own worth.
Learning When Priorities Change
Life has a way of reminding us that careers are only one part of our story.
During my time at the company, I became pregnant with twins.
As the pregnancy progressed, commuting into San Francisco became increasingly difficult.
Eventually, I made the difficult decision to step away and focus on my growing family.
At the time, it felt like closing one chapter.
Looking back, it was actually preparing me for the next.
Sometimes the opportunities we don’t choose become the ones that shape us the most.
Four Lessons I Still Carry Into Every Client Relationship
That chapter of my career continues to influence the way I work today.
1. Great marketing requires collaboration.
The best ideas emerge when talented people work together toward a shared goal.
2. Innovation comes from curiosity.
Testing, learning, and adapting are essential to long-term success.
3. Communication creates trust.
Clients deserve to understand the strategy behind every recommendation.
4. Know your value.
Whether negotiating a salary or pricing your services, confidence begins with recognizing the value you bring.
Every Experience Prepared Me for Entrepreneurship
Looking back, every stage of my career taught me something different.
Entrepreneurship taught me resilience.
Filmmaking taught me storytelling.
Content distribution taught me how audiences discover meaningful stories.
Corporate marketing taught me strategy and measurable growth.
Agency life taught me collaboration.
Today, those lessons come together at Chabot Business Solutions.
When clients hire me, they aren’t simply hiring someone who understands SEO, AI, Google Ads, or websites.
They’re hiring someone who understands how all the moving pieces work together.
Because the best marketing isn’t built by one expert.
It’s built through collaboration, communication, and a shared commitment to helping businesses grow.
