Here at Attentive, we’re proud of the talented people who make this company a great place to work. Our ongoing series, Attentive All Access, highlights the extraordinary members of our team to share a glimpse of who we are and what it’s like to be part of our company.
I sat down with Elodie Huston, a content strategist on Attentive’s Marketing team, to learn about her career and role, as well as her interests outside of the office. Originally from a small town in Wisconsin, Elodie attended Fordham University in New York City. After interning at Attentive during her senior year of college, she joined full time in July 2019. Bringing with her a historical perspective on the company after nearly a year of internship experience, Elodie sheds light on how previous experiences helped prepare her for a role at Attentive.
Tell me a little bit about yourself. Where are you from and where did you study?
I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin called Sheboygan Falls (fun fact: it’s mentioned in the classic film “Home Alone”). I majored in English and minored in German at Fordham College at Lincoln Center. Studying in the city gave me tons of opportunities to learn—it’s the norm to intern all four years. I interned at Attentive during my senior year of college—from January 2018 until the end of the summer—when I left for a Fulbright in Germany.
What are some of your hobbies outside of Attentive?
I love being outside—whether it’s biking, walking around the city, or hiking upstate. The best part of living in New York City is always being able to explore. I try to visit new museums and attend Broadway shows on the weekends. I’m also a pretty voracious reader (I’m always looking for new recommendations!) and enjoy knitting in my free time.
You mentioned you lived in Germany—what did you do there?
After graduation, I spent a year in Mainz, Germany teaching English on a Fulbright grant. I fell in love with education policy after working at an after-school program in a neighborhood on the west side of Manhattan, so I knew early on that I wanted to apply for a Fulbright. Its vision—that curiosity, openness, and empathy are forces for peace—paired with Germany’s super distinctive education system made it the ideal place to immerse myself in the culture and learn more about how effective Germany’s education system is in practice. While in Germany, I got to work with students in grades 5-13, teaching anything from grammar and writing to American culture and politics (especially how the two intersect).
You have a unique experience with Attentive: you were the first Marketing intern; then, after Fulbright, you joined Attentive full time. What has your experience been like going from intern to a full-time Content Marketing Strategist?
It’s been incredible to be a part of the fast growth at Attentive. In terms of professional growth, it’s rare that an intern can be hands-on with so many different projects, with constant constructive feedback from the VP of Marketing. That experience and mentorship helped me realize what I was fascinated by, and how I could grow a career in marketing. My internship definitely set the foundation for my current role here—it was a pretty seamless transition into a full-time position because as an intern, I had the chance to become well-versed in Attentive’s vision, as well as in all of the marketing software we use.
What is your role at Attentive? How would you describe a typical day?
As a Content Marketing Strategist, I get to work closely with different teams—from design, to sales, and client strategy—to support various projects. I spend a lot of time working on content creation, whether it be writing blogs and social posts, partner marketing materials, or press releases. Overall, I really enjoy how multi-faceted this role is and how I’m not siloed into a certain task; our team is fantastic at providing me with the opportunities to expand my marketing “toolkit” by always working on new projects. It’s really rewarding to see these materials I’ve worked on out in the real world—whether it’s content that is a prospect’s first introduction to Attentive, or materials for our clients to help them build out their mobile messaging strategy.
What kind of advice do you have for others who are looking to grow a career in marketing?
Be curious! Always ask for feedback on the projects you’re working on—it’ll help you grow and learn. And you should seek out new projects to learn about areas of marketing, tools, or processes you haven’t encountered before!
What does being “attentive” mean to you?
Always listen and adapt to people’s needs, whether it’s at a 1:1 level, with clients and prospects, or for the company as a whole. I think this is impactful as a marketer—not creating materials that speak to what you want to hear or say, but focusing on what your audience wants and needs.
