Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristen Cruz.
Kristen, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started my career in 2001 working as an advertising manager for an agency in South Texas managing ad placements and creative production for destinations and their hotels across the country. I was young, newly married, new baby, new city, trying to navigate all these areas of my life that for me came at a very young age. Marriage, family, and career. My first two jobs out of high school were the typical ones I think. Department store and waiting tables. It was an eye opening experience to go from a small town in East Texas to a larger city vibe working in a Downtown atmosphere with people who were in all stages of their careers. I think the intimidation drove me to learn fast. I worked extremely hard then and I still do. I’ve been able to build a personal brand for being an innovative, thought-leading woman in digital, and a reputation of someone who doesn’t back down from a good challenge. I created some amazing partnerships and relationships along the way which led me to lead both a marketing agency and a successful event business.
Has it been a smooth road?
It’s never smooth. Challenges are there for anyone, no matter the position, the pedestal, the opportunities. I started very young in my career, barely out of high school, working in the world of advertising. It was a profession shock. Imagine Sue Ellen in “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead.” If you’re over 35, I know you get that reference. Going from a “shift” work lifestyle to a 9-5, but also with a “work is life” mentality is tough.
I have two pieces of advice for young women. Do what you love and focus on that with all you’ve got. As long as you stay passionate, motivated, and humble, you will go places and have many chapters of a successful career. Also, don’t let age intimidate you. Stand your ground, speak what you believe. The lessons you’ll learn in those early stages of your career will be crucial to your success and you will learn from every situation where you’re often the youngest woman in the room.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Kristen Cruz Events & Design story. Tell us more about the business.
I have two parts of my career. One part is marketing and brand promotion and the other part is designing, planning, and promoting events. Being in a marketing and advertising field, promoting events often comes with the territory for clients. Many of the clients I work with host events continuously to promote their brands, services, and host educational meetings and conferences for their partners.
With a specialty in brand promotion and sponsorships, I’m able to rise above your typical corporate planner to help brands take their events to the next level, market them, increase ticket sales and attendance as well as increase the opportunity for sponsorships around the event.
As an agency, we are working with DMOs, hospitality brands and even corporate brands to host AMP CAMPS. Every AMP CAMP is designed with customization in mind. Our team cultivates the camp in relation to the DMO’s needs, partner challenges, and other factors to make it a totally unique event experience. Whatever the destination brand or active campaign, the goal is to integrate this into the right sessions so that each partner understands how to utilize the brand message in their own marketing and extend the brand footprint. We design these camps to be half-day sessions up to three-day events.
Aside from planning and promoting events on the agency side for Destination Innovate, I am also planning more social events these days under my event brand, Kristen Cruz Events & Design. It’s something I really enjoy, have so much fun with, and consider anything but work. Give me any reason to plan a good party!
I’m really proud of the work our agency has done with brands as their partners, not just a service provider. I also can’t say enough about the network of amazing women in DFW who have propelled me in my career as I hope I’ve been able to do for them as well.
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
Stay social. Be active in groups on social media and get out from behind your desk, often. Talk with your boss or manager about why it’s important for you to be outside the office, attending events, networking, learning, etc. when those opportunities come up and more importantly why that should be considered part of your normal routine.
Professional development is so overlooked in government and corporate positions these days. Many times, it’s small efforts that you can make to change old-school processes and open the door for more company paid memberships, conference passes, travel fees, etc. Stand your ground! Look for membership formats that offer mentorship opportunities. Also, keep in mind that women are here to empower other women. If you come across someone you really look up to, reach out to them. Ask them questions, share your story and your why. You will be pleasantly surprised at how perfect strangers can excel you in your career just with a simple outreach.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kristencruz.com
- Email: kristen@kristencruz.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristencruz/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristencruzevents
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/kristencruz
Image Credit:
Kristen Cruz
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