Meet Marie Albiges, a member of our Marketing and Communications Committee!
Tell us about your role — what you do, and what does a typical day look like for you?
I tell the stories of the incredible women who lead some of the world’s biggest retailers. I’m the managing editor for Women in Retail, a membership association under the wing of NAPCO Media, designed for executive-level women in retail. I oversee content, social media, our peer groups, and I co-host our biweekly podcast, Women in Retail Talks. A typical day for me can involve everything from interviewing a C-suite leader for the podcast to working with marketing to develop social media campaigns for promotion of our leadership events.
What’s a common misconception people have about your job or about marketing in your industry?
That social media is “just posting”! I sort of accidentally fell into the role of social media manager, and while I love it, answering a request to “just post this” isn’t as simple as people think. There’s so much to think about: The carefully crafted copy, the meticulously edited visuals, tagging folks in the post, finding room in the schedule… the list goes on.
What’s one marketing tool, habit, or framework you rely on more than anything else right now?
I don’t think I could function without the project management tool Asana. I recently led the charge to move our editorial content schedule over to Asana, and it’s been a game changer for meeting deadlines and staying organized across the team.
What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
I try to trade off nonfiction and fiction, and I just finished a series of short stories and novellas by Lionel Shriver called “Property”. I picked it up randomly at a used bookstore in Boulder, CO about a year ago and finally sat down to read it, and I love how the author loosely ties the theme of home, place and property — whatever that means for you — into captivating stories that present a moral or ethical conflict.
What are you looking forward to the most for the industry over the next year?
I’m looking forward to seeing how brands maintain the human touch in an evolving era of AI. A good marketing strategy, at its core, tells a good story, and you can’t tell a good story without an authentic human element. AI is a wonderful tool, but at the end of the day, people still crave human connection.
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
“Don’t stay in your lane.” It’s a refrain I’ve heard from several leaders lately; so often women are told, “Keep your head down, stay in your lane, and you’ll get the promotion, you’ll get the recognition.” I’ve learned from experience that that’s not usually the case, and the most successful people get there by taking bold risks and unconventional paths.
What advice would you give to the next generation of marketing leaders?
It took me a while to learn that networking isn’t about reaching out when you need something; it’s about maintaining the connections and relationships you’ve cultivated throughout your career, because you never know when the right opportunity could present itself.
When you unplug from work, where are you most likely to be in Philadelphia?
Most likely running around the Wissahickon with the dog! I’m fortunate that some of the most beautiful (and rarely frequented) trails are practically in my backyard, and I take advantage of it whenever I can.
What’s a mistake you made early on in your career?
Believing that hard work alone will pay off. It’s certainly important, and I’m not advocating for slacking off, but I’ve learned that the most successful leaders work hard and also understand the importance of maintaining relationships, continuously pursuing educational opportunities, and learning from others.
What’s one benefit of being an AMA Philadelphia member that you enjoy?
One of my goals when joining AMA Philadelphia was to meet other marketers in my area, and the monthly Marketing Mix at 6 networking meetups have been invaluable for that. In just a few short months I’ve connected with so many people who have been incredibly generous with their time and energy in helping me achieve my goals.