As we celebrate five incredible years of Vibe Creative Marketing, I can't help but reflect on the unexpected path that brought me here.
My journey started at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where I earned my Master's in Human Resource Management. Like many graduates, I had a clear vision: I was going to build a career in HR, helping organizations create positive workplace cultures and support their most valuable asset – their people.
And that's exactly what I did. I dove into the world of human resources, passionate about connecting with people, solving workplace challenges, and building environments where teams could thrive. Every day brought new situations, different personalities, and unique problems to solve. I loved the variety and the human element of it all.
Then 2020 happened. I had a baby, and the pandemic changed everything for businesses across Hawaiʻi and beyond. Like many professionals, I found myself wearing multiple hats as organizations adapted to survive and thrive in unprecedented times. That's when I was asked to take on some leasing tasks alongside my HR responsibilities. While I was excited to learn something new and tackle fresh challenges, I realized leasing wasn't quite the right fit for me.
It was then that I was approached to take on some additional marketing tasks. You might think HR and marketing are two completely different fields, but something in my personal life had already started preparing me for this transition. I had grown a personal Instagram account to 25,000 followers, and that's where marketing began to click for me.
Initially, I wasn't sure what to expect from this new role. Marketing felt like uncharted territory in a professional context. But as I began diving into digital marketing strategies, content creation, and client communication, something clicked. The skills I'd developed in HR – understanding people, identifying needs, building relationships, and solving problems – translated beautifully into marketing.
What started as a temporary expansion of responsibilities became a passion. I discovered that digital marketing, much like HR, is fundamentally about people. It's about understanding your audience, communicating effectively, and creating connections that matter. Every campaign is a new puzzle to solve, every client brings fresh challenges, and every day offers opportunities to learn something new.
After working part-time with Vibe Creative Marketing since December 2020, I knew I'd found something special. The work was fulfilling, the team felt like family, and I was genuinely excited about the projects we were tackling together. By January 2024, I made the decision to transition to full-time with Vibe, fully committing to this path that had become so much more than just a career change.
As I transitioned into my role as a digital marketing specialist, I realized I'd found my calling. The variety I loved in HR was amplified in marketing – one day I might be strategizing a social media campaign for a local nonprofit, the next I could be optimizing Yelp content for a small business owner.
What makes my journey even more meaningful is how perfectly it aligns with Vibe Creative Marketing's mission and vision. When our company says we want to "make positive, lasting partnerships within our Hawai'i community that go beyond the traditional agency-client relationship," it resonates deeply with my HR background and my belief in the power of authentic connections.
Our mission to provide high-quality digital marketing services to small- to medium-sized businesses and nonprofits speaks to my core values. These are the organizations that are truly making a difference in our community – the passion-driven entrepreneurs, the nonprofits changing lives, the family businesses that are the backbone of Hawaiʻi’s economy.
One of my favorite aspects of working at Vibe Creative Marketing is our clients themselves. We get to partner with business owners and nonprofit leaders who are genuinely passionate about their work. Whether it's working with Allstate agents who are dedicated to protecting their clients' futures, supporting the Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony as they nurture young musical talent in our community, or helping a family-owned shopping center connect with local shoppers, our clients care deeply about what they do.
This passion is contagious. When you're helping someone tell their story and reach their audience, you become invested in their success. It's not just about clicks and conversions – it's about helping passionate people connect with their communities and grow their impact.
As we celebrate five years of Vibe Creative Marketing, I'm filled with gratitude for the unexpected journey that brought me here. What started as a pandemic-driven expansion of responsibilities has become a fulfilling career that combines my love of people with my passion for creative problem-solving.
I'm especially thankful for an amazing boss who took a chance on me and believed in my potential, and for the privilege of working alongside incredible coworkers who make every day better. The transition from HR to digital marketing taught me that sometimes the best opportunities come from being open to change and embracing new challenges. It also reinforced my belief that at the heart of every successful business relationship – whether in HR or marketing – is genuine care for people and their goals.
Here's to the next five years of helping passionate businesses and nonprofits share their stories, connect with their communities, and grow their impact. In true Vibe Creative Marketing fashion, our vibe continues to attract our tribe, and I couldn't be more excited to be part of it.
Here's to many more years of good vibes, great partnerships, and meaningful marketing that makes a difference in Hawaiʻi and beyond!
