While at BOXED, we had the opportunity to hear from multiple employees about their role in the company and how they got there. Coming into this visit, I was curious about the different perspectives a startup company could offer for an agency bound girl like myself. Each speaker offered a world of insight into the inner workings of a startup company and what it means to be a part of it. While jobs at a startup may not match those that I seek, I came out with a huge takeaway that would be applicable to all my future career endeavors: “career paths aren’t linear”. Steve, a designer at BOXED, was a prime example of a nonlinear career path. He studied animation and became a video game designer out of college. From his animation career in game design he utilized his skills to become a marketing designer at BOXED. While his path was not necessarily spontaneous, it shed light on the fact that no matter the elicit job title, we can apply our skills to anything and everything we put our minds to, no matter the industry. Entering the job market as a strategist, doesn’t confine me to advertising, nor does it limit my reach.

Natalie Wapniarski