We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maddie Smith a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Maddie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career.

If I could change one thing about the education system, it would be shifting the focus away from just academics and test scores. School should be about preparing students to be strong, independent adults—not just a competition to see who’s the most “book smart.” Everyone comes from different backgrounds, and for a lot of students, school is more of a safe space than a place to actually learn. I think we should be teaching things like how to file taxes, build credit, manage money, and cook real, nourishing meals—life skills that actually matter. Of course math and science are important, but so is knowing how to take care of yourself. I’d also love to see schools embrace technology and AI instead of fighting it. It’s not going anywhere, and learning how to use it responsibly is part of being prepared for the future. In high school, I was lucky enough to be part of a program called CAPS—Center for Advanced Professional Studies—where I studied multimedia journalism, photography, and graphic design. We got to work with real businesses, even on a national level, and it gave me hands-on experience that shaped my career. Every student deserves opportunities like that.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I grew up in Kansas with my mom, but Arizona always felt like a second home. I spent summers and holidays visiting my dad and grandparents here. For a while, I thought I’d play soccer at ASU, but once I visited the University of Arizona, I knew that was where I belonged. I studied Information Science and Technology with a minor in Fashion and Consumer Studies, which was the perfect blend of tech and creativity.

After graduation, I worked in luxury retail for a year, but something didn’t feel right. I knew I wanted to be in a space that was more fast-paced, collaborative, and aligned with the kind of impact I wanted to make. That’s when I reached out to Bridget Campbell, someone I had always admired for her work, drive, and energy. (Seriously, go follow her on Instagram. She’s life-changing.) She introduced me to Obtaining Social, and I ended up applying on my lunch break while juggling my retail job and an unpaid internship to gain more experience. Fast forward, I joined the team as a social media coordinator and quickly grew into my current role as brand manager.

Now, I help brands connect with Gen Z in a way that’s meaningful, stylish, and strategic. Whether it’s through content, community building, or branding, I love turning a vision into something that actually resonates. What sets me apart is how much I care—about the work, the people, and the culture we’re building. I’m most proud of how far I’ve come by staying curious, scrappy, and open to learning. I want people to know that everything I do is rooted in intention and good energy, and if we work together, we’re building something that feels as good as it looks.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

that everything doesn’t and isn’t going to be perfect. everyday I am learning how to be pacient with myself while maintaining consistency – that is what is really important!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

To make OS the blueprint of digital marketing obvi! Thats the end all be all goal. a recent goal of ours is to really make a name for ourselves here in Arizona

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.obtainingsocial.com
• Instagram: obtainingsocial
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelainesmith/

Image Credits

Catie Menke