McKenzee went to school for psychology, but she never wanted to be a practicing psychologist. She was just fascinated by human behavior, and when it was time for college, she chose to chase that passion. The daughter of two entrepreneurs, she’d grown up with people telling her to ‘follow what you love, and you’ll figure out how to make money.’”
And that’s probably true, but it wasn’t easy for recent college grads during the pandemic.
“I was 22, fresh out of college, and uncertain about which career path to follow. On top of that, we were in the first few months of the pandemic, so finding a job in any industry was difficult,” McKenzee explains.
So, she went “full throttle” on online courses.
“One course, called ‘Introduction to Consumer Neuroscience’, sparked an ‘aha’ moment for me,” McKenzee recounts. “The course was all about how a person’s brain works when they’re making decisions as a customer, and I realized marketing is applied psychology–the thing I love most.”
Eager to pursue a career in marketing, McKenzee immersed herself in a wide range of courses, from marketing analytics to branding and content creation. Despite the challenging job market, she secured an entry-level position with a startup company in Denver, Colorado, where she honed her skills for over a year.
After moving back to her home state of Florida, she decided she wanted something a little more established–something that would expedite her career.
“I really was just looking for a place where I could learn as much as possible, as fast as possible,” explains McKenzee.
She discovered Haneke Design through an online job posting, and after meeting with Don Gillespie, Haneke Design’s Resource Manager, McKenzee knew this was the place for her. McKenzee was hired as the entry level Marketing Coordinator in December 2022, and quickly thereafter was promoted to Marketing Services Manager, her current title.
As Haneke Design’s Marketing Services Manager, McKenzee handles both internal and external marketing for Haneke. Internally, McKenzee oversees Haneke’s website and social media accounts, plans and creates content, coordinates networking events and more. Externally, she manages projects ranging from websites to branding to digital marketing, and also executes all marketing strategy and planning for clients.
While there is no typical day for McKenzee, they all have a few things in common: client meetings, internal Haneke meetings, and lots of planning, organizing and strategizing.
McKenzee appreciates Haneke’s culture of innovation, where she is empowered to explore new ideas and approaches, which are essential in the field of marketing where tools and trends are rapidly changing.
Being surrounded by smart, successful people her whole life, McKenzee quickly learned the value of hard work and determination.
“I’ve never been the smartest person in any room, and that’s taught me how to work a little harder than others. It’s also taught me how to be capable–I may not know something, but I know how to figure it out,” she says.
McKenzee’s journey showcases the power of perseverance and adaptability. Her determination led her to seize opportunities, navigate career shifts, and ultimately find her place in the dynamic world of marketing.
With an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a knack for problem-solving, McKenzee embodies the spirit of continuous learning and innovation, essential for success in the ever-evolving marketing landscape.
