On February 18, We Are Rosie turns five! That’s five years of creating access to opportunity for marketers in all seasons of their careers. Five years of building a community that’s home to more than 20,000 marketing experts. And five years of shaping a future of work that is more inclusive, flexible, and human.
Although we’re focused on the future, you know how birthday celebrations go—there’s always time to reminisce about the past. We decided to go way back to the beginning and check in with a few Rosies who worked on our very first project with Founder Stephanie Nadi Olson. Here’s what they had to say about joining We Are Rosie, working together on a major agency account, and where their careers have taken them in the last five years.
Jennifer Koobie Saroyan, Programmatic Media Manager
How did you first hear about We Are Rosie?
Steph and I connected on LinkedIn and she started telling me about her vision for We Are Rosie and I was so excited to join along on the journey!
What made you say “yes” to becoming a Rosie?
Steph! She is such an amazing leader and had such a great vision for how to better the industry. I wanted to continue the work I was doing but in a way that fit into my life and she was able to do that!
What was it like being on our very first project?
So fun! It felt so amazing to be part of a team made up of people who, like me, were burnt out from agency life but loved the work we were doing. We learned from each other, grew together, and made friendships that lasted years later.
What was your favorite part of it?
We always made an effort to talk as a team on Slack and in our “virtual office.” It wasn’t just about the work, we really formed friendships and it felt like being back in office with your favorite coworkers!
Tell us where you are in your career and life five years on.
We Are Rosie gave me the confidence that I could turn freelancing into a career. I’ve gone on to work on other Rosie projects. Those connections I have made have introduced me to individuals across most major advertising agencies and have opened the door to so many opportunities. I am still freelancing today!
Cat Trestini, Paid Media Manager
How did you first hear about We Are Rosie?
I learned about We Are Rosie from the Women of Atlanta Facebook Group about five years ago. Stephanie, the founder, was active in the group and looking for people to “run Facebook and Instagram ads.” I had a background in organic social and wanted to learn more about paid, so I went right for it!
What made you say “yes” to becoming a Rosie?
The opportunity to learn paid was right there—and the gig description was very simple. To be honest, I had no idea what was coming—it was a huge surprise to have worked on a huge food and beverages account!
What was it like being on our very first project?
It was so much fun. We had such an interesting team of about nine people, with all sorts of media backgrounds. I’m still in touch with a few of them today!
What was your favorite part of it?
The newness. We were all in new territory in one way or another, but we truly faced every challenge as a team together. Doing that, all as contractors, was a unique experience, especially in the “before-times” when remote work was not as popular as it is now. IYKYK: The Aretha Franklin tribute.
Tell us where you are in your career and life five years on.
Rosie has completely changed my career. The entire essence of what Rosie means and stands for has truly grown into a real life thing and I’m proud to see what it’s become today. I wanted to learn and become an expert on paid media, and I’m a lot closer to that now than then. I’ve had opportunities through Rosie—both freelance and freelance-to-hire—that have given me experience that I use in my work today. I’m much more confident when it comes to owning my craft and conducting business in general. Today I am a Paid Media Manager at a small agency and I couldn’t be happier. Not only have I fully transitioned to paid media, but I have expanded beyond just social, which had been much of my marketing career.
Maddie McGraw, Senior Digital Media Specialist
How did you first hear about We Are Rosie?
Like most things, networking! I was in the midst of looking for a new role and a media partner I had worked with reached out about a friend of hers who was looking for a freelancer for a few weeks, which made sense for me while I continued to look around for opportunities. She introduced me to Stephanie and before I knew it, I was part of the very first We Are Rosie project.
What made you say “yes” to becoming a Rosie?
I’ve always been one to take on opportunities that come my way and I also love feeling like a part of a team, so this was a no brainer. I did not have much knowledge about what it meant to be a freelancer or if I wanted to make it long term, but Steph and team were an amazing support system right when I needed it.
What was it like being on our very first project?
Being on the first project together, you knew right away that Rosie was special. It was a little unique in that we had a whole team of Rosies working together on the same project, so we were able to cultivate a great camaraderie even though none of us really knew what was to come after.
What was your favorite part of it?
Getting to know Stephanie and Lacey and a few of the other freelancers and having them as a support system during that time when I was going through a turning point in my career was amazing. I really appreciate them!
Tell us where you are in your career and life five years on.
I have since been a Rosie ever since that first project. I have now been a freelancer for almost five years and worked with some of the largest agencies/brands in the country. The impact of being a freelancer has adjusted how I look at my working hours and how to take advantage of that time but also have balance. I’ve self-taught new skills that could open me up to new types of projects, become so much more adaptable in my work environment (you never know what the situation is when you take on a project) and grown confidence in myself in so many ways.
Lacey Brumfield, Growth Partner
How did you first hear about We Are Rosie?
I was Steph’s nanny right before she started We Are Rosie! I was destined for We Are Rosie before it was We Are Rosie.
What made you say “yes” to becoming a Rosie?
Steph could convince me to eat dog poop! She believes in me and supports me so hard. It’s nearly impossible to not trust her and just say “yes.” No regrets!
What was it like being on our very first project?
“Wild” is the word that comes to mind. It was my first career opportunity in the ad world and the agency we were working with was offboarding one of their clients. Anyone who’s been in the agency world knows how that situation often becomes the wild west. It was intense!
What was your favorite part of it?
The “DD01” team was elite. So many laughs and inside jokes—as you can see. I still talk to many of the OG Rosies from this first project.
Tell us where you are in your career and life now five years on.
Full circle moment… I now work on the core team at We Are Rosie as a Growth Partner, helping bring more opportunities to the Rosie community! I joke around a lot and say that I was tricked into joining the first project (I mean, I totally was…), but the truth is that I was lucky enough to have been there. I get to work with so many brilliant people every day, and I knew that anything they poured their hearts into would be something I’d want to be part of too.
Are you a marketer who wants to be part of the Rosie magic? Join our community for free and get access to opportunities with big brands and agencies, plus upskilling, networking, and more.
