Career Roadmap
Kirstie's work combines: Design, Education, and Being Creative
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Kalamazoo Central
Bachelor's Degree
Medical Illustration/Medical Illustrator
Kendall College
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an Advertising and Promotions Managers:
High School
Bachelor's Degree: Graphic Communications, General
Graduate Degree: Marketing/Marketing Management, General
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
The faith my Life Drawing teacher had in me. She made me feel brave and competent.
2.
Did a bunch of graphic design freelance and got paid!
3.
Took a leap of faith and went into advertising sales. I loved developing marketing plans for people.
4.
Worked for a Business Process Improvement company and learned about Lean Marketing and gave lectures.
5.
Entered ArtPrize.
6.
Became a Director of Marketing and get to do everything I love!
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Parents:
Art school? What are you going to do with that?
How I responded:
I first step foot on the campus and knew it's where I belonged. I knew my father was doubtful I could make anything out of a degree from an art school, but I turned his criticism into fuel and proved him wrong. So very wrong. I ended up far more successful, happy, and deeply fulfilled than he ever was in his lifetime. After I found my career and advanced beyond his financial success, he started to take note of my accomplishment and support me. He's gone now, but I know he's proud.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I was the child of a single parent (basically) without my father's direct financial support. I took out loans to complete school. When finished, I paid them off with a vengeance by living meagerly. Been debt free for more than 10 years.
My mom almost made it to college - but then she had me. My dad went into trade. College was "expensive" and unattainable with the income of my parents and their parents. I broke the pattern and found happiness and success.