This week’s spotlight falls on Carmela Cook, a truly remarkable woman, who I’ve had the pleasure of knowing for twenty years. As I write this, it’s surreal to realize how swiftly time has passed since our high school days when were just beginning to learn about adulthood. From the days of our youth to navigating the business world together, Carmela exudes both fierceness and kindness, always willing to lend a helping hand.
Journey with Carmela
Carmela Cook comes from a family of entrepreneurs where she used to work with her dad helping him in the office and where she learned all about business. Her insatiable drive to connect with more customers during those formative years ignited her passion for the dynamic world of marketing. Armed with a bachelor's degree in public relations and
marketing, along with a master's in business administration, she has charted a career spanning over 15 years across diverse marketing roles. She has propelled her career through various aspects of marketing from director and management roles with a primary focus in the healthcare industry.
Her love of marketing comes from the diversity that it offers, from digital marketing, content creation, and campaign management to analytics. It allows for her creativity to be used in a variety of ways and as an outlet within business strategy. She appreciates that no two days are alike. The world is everchanging and she must stay abreast of what larger companies are doing as well as how a solopreneur has interpreted an approach and see if those ideas will work for her team and business. She enjoys the trial-and-error strategy as marketing is as much an art as it is a science to determine that what may work for one business may not be the same approach for another.
She finds immense joy in sharing her experiences with young marketers and aspiring professionals, offering guidance, and instilling hope in their journey. “There's a thrill in witnessing their enthusiasm and aiding them in finding their path within the realms of their career in marketing,” shares Cook. She has spoken to college classes and encourages them to keep learning because, yes, their talent and skill sets are needed, and careers in marketing and strategy are now needed more than ever. Moreover, she harbors a desire to expand her expertise into operations and business development, bridging the gap between marketing strategies and broader organizational objectives.
Growth & Strategize
Carmela also has an entrepreneurial side with her own side hustle, Cook Marketing & PR Solutions. She wants to help small businesses with her expertise and strategize the best path forward for their business. I was fortunate enough to have used her stellar services with my ecommerce store. Carmela enjoys the opportunity to help small businesses as she feels it’s her purpose to help them grow. Her ideal client would be a local company, a smaller company, or even a startup. Smaller businesses can struggle; however, she can provide a fresh perspective and strategy to help them flourish.
Regarding goals, she's currently navigating her networking phase, a time of exploration and discovery. It’s in her nature to always be learning, and wants to continue to grow mentally, spiritually, and physically – the trifecta. She loves a team environment and thrives as a leader as she has a gift for seeing other’s strengths and enjoys helping others reach their full potential. However, her primary aim is professional growth, particularly in executive leadership roles. She possesses a knack for lifting others and identifying their strengths. Carmela envisions a future where she can leverage these talents in a leadership capacity and with opportunities that align with her vision.
Insightful Explorations
There are a multitude of women who serve as beacons of inspiration for her. It all traces back to her upbringing, where she was surrounded by four remarkably strong women. From her great aunt Camille, who back in the 60s was thriving in her career as a manager at BellSouth, to her grandmother Barbara, who juggled raising kids while pursuing her education to become a successful sonographer. Then there's her grandmother Lucille, a force of nature whose determination never wavered, and her own mother, who epitomized hard work throughout her career at United Airlines. Learning from their experiences has fueled her ambition and drive for career growth. But it doesn't stop there; she seeks wisdom from the women she works with now, tapping into the insights of seasoned professionals in strategy, marketing, and external relations. Their stories serve as guideposts, enriching her journey and shaping her aspirations.
She dreams of sitting down with Sarah Blakely, the brains behind Spanx, to soak in the wisdom of her journey firsthand. Carmela finds Sarah’s story uplifting and she envisions a coffee chat where she could glean insights into what keeps Blakely pushing forward.
Forge Ahead
Her advice to fellow entrepreneurs and professionals alike is to persevere and network relentlessly. Keep going, even on the toughest days when you feel like you’re not making any headway. She emphasizes the importance of networking to forge connections – get involved. She recommends volunteering or serving on a board, and building those relationships that you can learn from and have doors open to opportunities that you may not have even considered.
On challenging days, Carmela’s ultimate drive is her desire to be the best version of herself, knowing that it sets the foundation for her child to thrive. She’s always been a natural go-getter and having that tenacity instilled in her from a young age, she approaches every day with a determination to excel. This innate resilience fuels her journey so she can remain steadfast in her pursuits of her personal and professional evolution.
Connect with Carmela
Carmela is a beacon of joy to be around, a true inspiration for myself as a wonderful friend, and always provides the best insight. She would be a treasure for any project, business, or opportunity she finds herself a part of. Want her to be a part of your next story, reach out to her on LinkedIn and connect with her today!
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