Honoring the Women at Integrate: #IntegrateHer Week 5

All month long, in honor of National Women’s History Month, we are sharing stories of career journeys, personal and professional challenges, and words of wisdom from the women at Integrate. From being musicians to competitive swimmers to undisputed staring contest champions, the women at Integrate are talented, smart, and fun. We’re so incredibly proud of our diverse group of female employees and we hope you enjoy reading their stories as much as we have. Check out our fifth installment of #IntegrateHer stories below, as well as stories from previous weeks: week 1, week 2, week 3 and week 4. Follow us on social (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter) for more.

Veronica Mowchan, Sr. Director, Global People Solutions

1. Tell us about your career path and what led you to Integrate.

I was about to wrap up my undergrad and asked myself “Well, what now?” Integrate had just been established and they were in need of HR support, so I raised my hand. 10 years later, I clearly enjoy what I do and the people I work with!

2. What has been your biggest challenge over the past year (personally, professionally, or both)?

The magnitude of the pandemic and its impact on our Integrators was unfamiliar territory. It was extremely tough to simultaneously juggle my personal, family & professional needs under such pressure. I had to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. I have always taken pride in having a level of resilience needed to face hard times but that was certainly tested in 2020.

3. Do you have any unique talents?

I am a certified people scientist, otherwise known as an organizational psychologist. I have always had a love for puzzles and people are my favorite type. 🙂

4. What do you do for fun outside of work?

I build miniature furniture. It is such a perfect de-stressor for me as I get to zone out and satisfy the creative side of me.

5. What is one thing you’d tell your younger self?

Remember who you are and don’t dim your light. Shine bright and encourage others to do the same.

6. Which one of our cultural pillars do you most align with?

There is a delicate balance to embody Radical Candor. Being able to deliver hard information with authenticity and empathy is critical to my role and has earned me the nickname “Velvet Hammer.”

Stephanie Swinyer, Head of Revenue Marketing

1. Tell us about your career path and what led you to Integrate.

I am a builder and driving growth at companies is where my heart is. I have been in the B2B tech industry in Silicon Valley my entire career. My first role in marketing was in event marketing. I realized very quickly that what I loved about marketing was the partnership with sales, and with all eyes on demand generation, I have never looked back. This propelled me into a variety of demand generation-focused roles where I had the privilege of working at amazing high-growth companies like George P. Johnson, Siebel, Taleo, Workday, and some key start-ups that enabled me to get really close to revenue teams.

I was able to aid in taking the company public at Workday, which was one of the highlights of my career. This also led to a stint where I built a successful marketing consulting practice. I often tell marketers, if you’re not sure how your role equates to revenue, you better figure that out quickly. I have been so fortunate to have some incredible mentors in my career like Deb Wolf (our current Integrate CMO), Jeff Pulver, Felicia Egan and Julie Smith. It is not lost on me that I am where I am today because of their willingness to coach, teach and empower at every turn.

I was a three-time customer before joining Integrate. I feel grateful every day for this professional opportunity at Integrate to help shape the marketing landscape. Although more importantly, it is so amazing to stand behind a solution that is truly helping marketers navigate these unprecedented times.

2. What has been your biggest challenge over the past year (personally, professionally, or both)?

Losing my mom this past year has had a profound impact on me. She was my rock. We were very close. She was an eternal optimist. She taught me:

• Whatever you do, do it with passion and grace.
• Work hard, really hard. The recipe is simple.
• Be kind – to everyone. Treat the janitor with the same respect as the CEO.
• Don’t ever lose your sense of humor and smile.
• Success is how you define it.

If anyone tells you that balancing your career and family is easy, they might be stretching the truth. I believe that home and work-life balance is a struggle no matter who you are. I do my absolute best to be present with my family and our Integrate team. My measure is – does my family know how much I love them every day? Does my team know how much I respect them and their contribution every day? If I use those measures, I’m doing the right thing.

3. Do you have any unique talents?

I polled those I love most and asked them what my unique talents are: I connect with people. I have been told that my passion is infectious. I have also been told that I can see things in people that others cannot, which I think enables me to connect differently. Relationships matter and deep relationships matter more.

I am also a musician. I play several instruments as my father is a retired music teacher. I love to sing and have been in a few blues/rock bands.

When I asked my daughter, Mady (13), and son, Parker (11), what they thought my unique talents are, they said, “You’re a really good Mom. You really care about people and you make a mean grill cheese.” I’ll take it. A dear friend of mine describes parenting as wearing your heart on your sleeve and if done right, parenthood breaks your heart wide open. The only reason I know I’m doing a pretty darn good job as a mom, is that my heart feels like it’s broken wide open most of the time I interact with them.

I’m also a good wife because I have an amazing husband, Jeff, who has always recognized and respected that I am as driven as he is. We push each other in support of our pursuits. I am beyond lucky he is my partner on this journey.

4. What do you do for fun outside of work?

I have been a competitive swimmer since I was six years old. What I love about swimming is that it is both an individual and team sport. Additionally, it has been such a joy for me to coach our kid’s sports teams in soccer and softball. Anything outdoors is good for the soul. We love camping, backpacking and hiking with our family and friends. We are also fortunate to have this amazing group of close-knit neighbors affectionately referred to as “The Loopers.” Our kids all grew up together and that kind of friendship is priceless.

5. What is one thing you’d tell your younger self?

Be kind to yourself like someone you love.

If I had thought about it this way earlier on in life, I would have been a lot kinder to myself. I love the Warren Buffet interview where they asked him about how he measures wealth. He answered, “By how much love a person has in their life.” He said that he knows a lot of high-net worth people who have few successful relationships. For Buffett, these people are not wealthy. As my mom would always say, success is how you define it.

6. Which one of our cultural pillars do you most align with?

Performance and Trust. I am proud to say that is what my team says I’m most aligned with. Innovation = growth. Trust is the basis for any deep relationship.

Sarah Bretti, Sales Coordinator

1. Tell us about your career path and what led you to Integrate.

After receiving my degree in Marketing from Metropolitan State University of Denver, I worked for the Colorado Avalanche as an Inside Sales Representative. Sports have always been a big part of my life and I was excited to continue to be involved with them in a professional setting. Fast-forward a year and I was ready to leave the cold in Colorado and explore somewhere new – which brought me to AZ! I began working for a UK based travel company, BUNAC, as their US Sales and Marketing Coordinator. This experience was amazing as I got to partner with people from all over the world and travel to London. Unfortunately, COVID-19 hit the travel industry hard and I ended up losing my job. However, this led me to my current role within Integrate where I couldn’t be happier to be a part of such an amazing organization.

2. What has been your biggest challenge over the past year (personally, professionally, or both)?

My biggest challenge over the past year was becoming unemployed this past August. I never imagined I would lose my job, especially during a time where so many others were also in the same boat as I was, making the job search process that much more difficult. After countless interviews and feeling discouraged that I was never going to find a role that I was passionate about or a company that I was genuinely excited to be a part of, I got off my initial interview with Alex King and knew this is where I was wanted to be. The months of feeling discouraged and embarrassed quickly changed after beginning my role here at Integrate and ended my 2020 on a great note.

3. Do you have any unique talents?

I don’t think I necessarily have any unique talents… I was a lefty college softball pitcher at MSU Denver which I suppose is something not everyone can say they’ve done!

4. What do you do for fun outside of work?

Outside of work you can find me attempting to make par on the golf course (let’s be honest I’m more of a bogey golfer), spending time at the lake either on a boat or riding jet skis, catching a baseball game, tubing the river and hanging out with friends and family!

5. What is one thing you’d tell your younger self?

I would tell my younger self to just have fun! Enjoy the experiences and opportunities that come my way and make the most of them.

6. Which one of our cultural pillars do you most align with?

The cultural pillar that I most align with is happiness. I believe happiness within the workplace is so important. It’s what drives employees and customers to want to be a part of Integrate each and every day.

Ashley Langford, Senior Manager, Marketing Operations

1. Tell us about your career path and what led you to Integrate.

After taking some time off to start a family, I re-started my career in the nonprofit world. I quickly moved up in the organization from Administrative Assistant to the CEO to Data, Technology & Analytics Manager. In 2011 my CEO attended a conference and saw Marketo in action and purchased it for the organization. She handed over the technology told me to learn it, set it up and train the staff on how to use it. This was my first experience with Marketo and I instantly fell in love. I wanted to concentrate more of my time in Marketo and shorten my commute, so I looked for a new position. I landed at a healthcare technology company that went through some acquisitions and migrated previous marketing automation systems to Marketo. I needed a bigger challenge, so I went to a fintech company where I was exposed to new technologies and was chosen by Marketo as a Marketo Champion for 2019. I again needed to shorten my commute time as Atlanta traffic was just getting insane, so I looked for a position where I could work remotely. I saw the job posting for Integrate on a Marketo forum and applied right away. I was really excited about the opportunity because I was an Integrate customer at the healthcare technology company I worked at and knew how awesome it was. I also attended a bowling event a few years before that Integrate sponsored. All the Integrate staff were so nice and we had so much fun bowling, I knew that Integrate was the place that I wanted to be. I’ve been here since July of 2019 and couldn’t be happier.

2. What has been your biggest challenge over the past year (personally, professionally, or both)?

My biggest challenge over the past year was juggling a full-time job and becoming my daughter’s teacher. It was really interesting to learn the new way that math was taught, and then teach my daughter how to correctly do it. The best part that came out of having her do schoolwork in my office was that she got a 7-month intensive course in marketing. She is now in middle school taking a marketing class and able to explain content syndication to her teacher and class.

3. Do you have any unique talents?

I am the undisputed staring contest champion among my family.

4. What do you do for fun outside of work?

I hang out with my family, cook and play card games.

5. What is one thing you’d tell your younger self?

I would tell my younger self that imposter syndrome is a real feeling, but we know our stuff and we can do anything we put our mind to.

6. Which one of our cultural pillars do you most align with?

I most align with Performance and Innovation. I enjoy being able to take charge of projects and get the work done that makes the company better. For Innovation, we need make scalable processes that are automated and remove the manual tasks in our day to day.

Abby Grip, Manager, Americas Customer Success

1. Tell us about your career path and what led you to Integrate.

I got my degree in communication and started out in various marketing roles after college. My job right before Integrate was as a digital campaign manager for a content syndication publisher called Selling Simplified, which was where I first heard of Integrate. After that company, I applied for an ASM job at Integrate, got the job and here I am 5+ years later still with Integrate and moved several roles up along the way!

2. What has been your biggest challenge over the past year (personally, professionally, or both)?

Professionally – all the challenges outside of my role’s control. Personally – the emotional toll of witnessing so much death globally and being isolated to our homes and not be able to do all the fun outings I typically enjoy and therefore having to find coping mechanism and a new normal during pandemic life.

3. Do you have any unique talents?

I am musical – I play piano and sing, having taken lessons in both for many years growing up. I’m also getting decently good at crocheting and like to make baby outfits/crochet toys for people having babies.

4. What do you do for fun outside of work?

Dance parties at home with my daughter and husband, snowshoeing in the winter, and hiking in the summer in the beautiful Rocky Mountains!

5. What is one thing you’d tell your younger self?

Haters gonna hate, hate, hate…just shake it off, shake it off!

6. Which one of our cultural pillars do you most align with?

Trust. When people trust you to do your job and trust you to have their best interest in mind, you build strong relationships with both customers and your colleagues.

Emily Fetherston, Customer Success Manager

1. Tell us about your career path and what led you to Integrate.

My background is a combination of advertising, marketing and software, with the role of creating happiness and adoption of a product. I stumbled upon Integrate a few years ago when I was in the programmatic space. Integrate remained on my radar and I was thrilled when I saw an opportunity on the CS team here on the East Coast!

2. What has been your biggest challenge over the past year (personally, professionally, or both)?

I’d have to say learning to delegate more often and taking on less. Like many new colleagues here at Integrate, starting remote in a pandemic was an adjustment. But when you are surrounded by an incredibly talented and collaborative team that is eager to achieve the same goal together, this shift in mentality is simplified!

3. Do you have any unique talents?

I am a licensed Captain (25 Ton). I love being on the water and have been doing so from a young age. My dad and I like to run charters together. It’s a blast to work alongside him and give people the chance to be on the water and enjoy themselves. It’s also great having the opportunity to learn about regulations and scenarios that protect our waters and people!

4. What do you do for fun outside of work?

I love the outdoors, and you can usually find me skiing or on a boat any chance that I get. Additionally, I love entertaining and cooking. Having a chance to bring people together is a huge joy of mine.

5. What is one thing you’d tell your younger self?

Burning yourself out does not lead to growth, and a good work/life balance is crucial to a positive outlook!

6. Which one of our cultural pillars do you most align with?

Happiness & Trust

Allyson Moellenhoff, Sr. Product Marketing Manager

1. Tell us about your career path and what led you to Integrate.

I started in B2B software a little over five years ago. I had the fantastic opportunity to help grow that business from private equity through multiple acquisitions and going public. What attracted me to Integrate was its size and its people. Integrate was just large enough to not be a traditional start-up, but small enough to be nimble and creative. The people at Integrate have the attitude and skills to get to the next level and become a $100 million company. I wanted to be a part of that ride again.

2. What has been your biggest challenge over the past year (personally, professionally, or both)?

This last year was challenging because I didn’t have my favorite hobbies outside of work or the ability to see my friends due to COVID-19. I started working from home and working longer hours. I live in Minnesota, so when winter hit, I was stuck inside more often. My largest challenge was to work from home, not to live at work.

3. Do you have any unique talents?

I think my unique talent is bringing people and teams together that think differently.

4. What do you do for fun outside of work?

Most of my hobbies were postponed due to COVID. This year I got into hiking and gardening as an excuse to get outside.

5. What is one thing you’d tell your younger self?

All difficult situations are temporary. You got this.

6. Which one of our cultural pillars do you most align with?

I personally align the most with “Be the CEO of your job.” When someone stands up and takes charge of their job and their results, great things happen especially across teams.

Kaitlin Mikalis, Director of Sales

1. Tell us about your career path and what led you to Integrate.

Long history in B2B advertising sales. Right after college, I was a sales assistant for CMP Media and learned the world of magazine publishing. I sold print advertising along with a few banner ads before I moved to Barcelona, Spain to improve my Spanish and had my first taste of the world of SaaS working for an American company called TravelClick. I transitioned back to media sales working at CBS interactive, Ziff Davis and was finally ready to dive back into SaaS at Integrate. I have been at Integrate over 5 years and while every year is a challenge, it is ALWAYS interesting, fun and I continue to learn and laugh with my colleagues.

2. What has been your biggest challenge over the past year (personally, professionally, or both)?

The biggest challenge this last year was being home with my family 24/7 and trying to support my 13- and 9-year-old with online school (they still haven’t gone back to campus) while having a demanding work schedule. The lowest of lows was when the terrible fires in California made the sky so dark it looked like we were living on Mars. We were really trapped inside then. Since then, there have been more bright spots with grandparents getting vaccinated, a wonderful puppy joining our family and a return to actual baseball games for my sons.

3. Do you have any unique talents?

I am VERY good at standing on my head. I come from a long line of women who can stand on their head for a long time!

4. What do you do for fun outside of work?

I love to explore Lake Tahoe and ski, hike and boat with my family. When we are home, we enjoy having friends over for dinner, taking our dog to the beach, riding bikes, drinking wine and listening to music. We LOVE to travel and are really looking forward to travelling internationally again and going to concerts. We have our fingers crossed we can go to OhanaFest in November!

5. What is one thing you’d tell your younger self?

Relax, it is okay to take risks and fail. Don’t play it so safe!!!

6. Which one of our cultural pillars do you most align with?

Happiness! I love to deliver happiness to my clients and help keep my colleagues laughing even when times are tough, and work is challenging. I love people and cherish my relationships with my clients and colleagues. They keep me motivated and proud to be an Integrator!