Top 5 Lessons

Top Five Lessons I Learned in 2020

by Corinna Gelster-Borgardt , Director of Marketing and Brand

Saying this has been an incredibly difficult year is an understatement. Both personally and professionally, we were all stretched, challenged, and shaped in ways we never foresaw.

It would be simple to write this year off as "terrible" and simply toast it goodbye at midnight on December 31 (which I plan to do anyway), but as is often the case in life, it's not that all-or-nothing of a scenario.

As I reflect on this year, I feel incredibly grateful for my professional community and some of the more valuable and inspiring lessons I learned and for the wisdom and experience I gained this year.

Challenges do lead to innovation, and below are the top five lessons I learned in 2020:

  1. How to pivot to a digital marketing strategy
  2. How to hire remotely
  3. How to manage and lead remotely
  4. How to build a marketing department
  5. How to create meaningful professional connections remotely

In 2021, I'll be writing a follow-up blog (or more!) sharing some of the insights and resources from the lessons above.

Until then, happy holidays, and here's to a new chapter and new year in 2021!

Date posted: December 23, 2020

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About the Author

Corinna Gelster-Borgardt, Director of Marketing and Brand

Corinna graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a BFA in Graphic Design. With over a decade of experience working as a leader and designer, she oversees and manages the strategic direction and day-to-day execution of the marketing design department at Metal Toad. As the engineering company’s creative visionary, she leads the design department in their mission to unite audience-focused strategic design with meaningful experiences and business value.

Offering a diverse skillset, she's adept at assessing the real “ask”, strategizing solutions, and motivating teams to deliver exceptional work. Yet Corinna considers her role to be about so much more — it’s about being a driven, empathetic, and positive leader who invests in her team, creates focus and alignment, and gets things DONE.

In all endeavors, she brings a passion for adaptability and learning, keen visual skills, and due diligence from concept through completion.

When not leading or designing, you can find her exploring the Oregon coast and local farmer’s markets, running, doing yoga, curling up with a great book, sculpting, or cooking for an impromptu dinner party.

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