Ian Schafer brilliantly expressed why it is so important for marketers to keep learning and growing professionally: “Innovation needs to be part of your culture. Consumers are transforming faster than we are, and if we don't catch up, we’re in trouble.”
What is the MN AMA?
I have been fortunate enough to find great spaces and resources not only online, but in the city where I work and live, to continue to learn and grow my network. One of those spaces is the Minnesota Chapter of American Marketing Association (MN AMA). MN AMA has monthly events that aim to provide opportunities for members to interact with each other and network and learn about industry best practices, trends, and issues.
In 2015, the chapter hosted events such as "Building Up Endurance, An Introduction to Agile Marketing", Converting Strangers into Customers in the Mobile Revolution", "How a Savvy Media Strategy Can Boost Your Branded Content", and "Winning the Game - What's the Story Behind a Great Name?". In addition to the live content at the various events, MN AMA has a blog where you can find valuable content like "Five Interview Traps and How to Avoid Them", Five Ways to Rethink the Marketing Skills Gap", and the "Questions with..." series with industry influencers such as AMA CEO Russ Klein and Jeff Julian CMO of AJi.
NK and MN AMA
I joined the Association after attending my first event in May 2015, themed "How Market Research Guided the Launch and Activation of the New Cargill Brand." It was fascinating to see a company be so open and candid about the challenges they have faced in updating the incredibly big and global brand while ensuring that stakeholders around the world left involved in the process. I was hooked, and I have been attending events and volunteering on the programming committee since.
How to join!
If you are interested in joining the AMA and/or your local chapter, there are a few easy steps to follow. You need to need to sign-up on the AMA's website and choose the type of membership that fits your career stage. The AMA has varying student and professional levels of membership. You will also have to pay organization dues in addition to chapter dues.
If you are interested in becoming a member of MN AMA or an AMA chapter in your city, you can learn more here.
Thanks for reading!