We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Megan Miller a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Megan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
As a Gemini child, I have always craved new challenges and experiences, and my parents recognized and nurtured that quality in me from a young age. Gemini children are known for being bright, curious, and adaptable, but we can easily become bored or restless if their environment lacks stimulation or diversity. They understood the importance of offering variety in my day-to-day education and activities, while also encouraging my natural curiosity and interests. There was a lesson in every walk around the block and a teachable moment to be found even in the late hours of the night – or sometimes the wee hours of the morning. They believed in me and trusted that the path I was given I would follow (with or without a few detours). Even when I faced failure or disappointment, they were always there to support me, offering guidance and asking what I had learned from the experience.
It didn’t matter if I was really good at something, or I wasn’t good at it at all – my parents wanted me to try it all and they wanted me to learn that failure wasn’t the end of the world. In fact, so many conversations I had with my parents over the years were about what I learned and what I was going to do with that information. No matter how many wins or how many disappointments I faced, my parents were there for every one of them. My dad was always there after a volleyball game or a vocal competition with a Gatorade and a power bar. We’d talk the whole way home and as soon as I got home my mom was ready and waiting to have the next conversation – Okay, well, what can we do? How can we support you? Do you need a vocal coach? Do you need to go to a volleyball camp? Do you need extra lessons, extra tutoring? Their support and encouragement, especially in the face of failure, was epic for me because it allowed me to truly go after anything I wanted without fear.
Their unwavering support allowed me to pursue my passions and ultimately led me to success in both my personal and professional life. As a parent myself now, I hope to pass on the same values of excitement, support, and compassion to my own child. I believe that in the 90s, parents were more involved in their children’s education, and my parents were no exception. They placed great emphasis on values such as family, faith, community, and education, and those values continue to guide me today.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
From a young age, I have always had a creative spark within me. I constantly searched for ways to inject some pizzazz into everything I did, from starting at the bottom and working my way up to more exciting opportunities. This love for creativity and marketing was ingrained in me from my time as a professional opera singer. As a singer, I learned to market myself through my talents and gifts, and I knew that I needed a backup plan. That’s when I discovered my true passion for marketing.
Since then, I have had the privilege of working in various sales and marketing roles, from Miss Universe to Starkey Hearing Technologies, which gave me valuable insights into consumer behavior and the art of building communities. I love figuring out why people buy certain products and creating experiences that leave a lasting impact. In 2015, I took on the role of Director of Marketing for Opera Carolina, which allowed me to merge my passion for marketing with my love of singing. After seven incredible years, I decided to launch my own marketing company, Megan Miller Marketing. My brand is all about authenticity and creating unique experiences that people will remember for years to come. When people ask me what my niche is I say – I work with creators, I work with people who create things, people who create opportunities, who create food, who create performances, who create businesses. Whatever it is someone might create, as a creative working with other people who also creative for a living is what excites me and gets me out of bed in the morning.
I work with creators of all kinds, whether they are artists, chefs, performers, or entrepreneurs. My approach involves helping clients identify their brand and developing a marketing campaign that truly speaks to their audience. I believe that people crave experiences, not just products or services. And that’s what sets me apart from the competition. My goal is to help businesses create a legacy that will stay with their customers long after the campaign is over. My unique ideation mapping process involves collaborating with clients to determine their goals and the feelings they want to evoke in their audience. From there, we create a campaign that is tailor-made to their brand, leaving a lasting impression on their customers. I’m excited to continue creating unforgettable experiences and making a difference in the world of marketing.
What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?
In 2015, I discovered my true talent and potential in marketing while working for a nonprofit. Even then, I knew that marketing was my calling. I’d worked hard to build a strong network and community in Charlotte and helping people with their marketing needs had become a true passion. Well before my first official client ever hired me I took a special joy in helping those around me by sharing insider tips and ideas that would in turn help their own endeavors gain traction. My love for marketing would evolve into a solid side hustle over the next three years, going on to help people with social media, marketing, and event coordination.
When the pandemic hit and I was forced to work from home, I saw an opportunity to take my side hustle to the next level. With the support of my family and husband, I started an official Megan Miller marketing company in 2022. This was the same year that my son was diagnosed with lymphoblastic lymphoma, and I realized that owning my own company gave me the flexibility to be present for my son during his treatments. Being able to be there for my son while building my own business was truly invaluable, and it reinforced that I was on the right path.
Despite the challenges that came with launching my company while my son was going through cancer treatments, the universe reassured me that this was the right path for me. I was able to be a successful business owner, a loving mother, and a caring partner for my husband, all at the same time. My side hustle became my full-time career, and I couldn’t be happier.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Moving to Charlotte in 2013 was a big change for me. We didn’t know anyone, having previously lived in Minneapolis, and I missed Palm Beach, which had always been my home. But I was excited to start my new job as a marketing specialist and social media strategist at an agency in Charlotte. In those early years, my focus was on making friends and connections in the community. My husband and I were newly married and didn’t have children yet, so we wanted to immerse ourselves in the local culture.
After a few years, I transitioned into tech, working on app development and web design. But I didn’t let go of my passion for opera singing, and I continued to sing as a resident artist backstage at Opera Carolina. I started documenting my performances and sharing them on social media, which quickly gained attention and recognition. This led to my eventual role as director of marketing for Opera Carolina, where I was able to combine my passion for the arts with my expertise in marketing.Through my work with Opera Carolina, I began to meet and network with industry leaders, cultural influencers, and fellow artists. I made it a point to connect with people outside of work, inviting them to coffee or lunch and supporting their businesses. As I supported others, I found that they would support me in return. I credit a lot of my reputation management to social media, where I documented my journeys and connected with people.
As I continued to build my brand as a marketing expert, I became known for my innovative, out-of-the-box ideas. I loved creating something new and exciting, and people recognized me as an innovator and a creative. Through these efforts, I developed lasting friendships and relationships in the media and beyond. It’s always exciting when people recognize the work that you’ve put in, whether it’s through an inspiring blog post or a chance encounter at Lowe’s.
I am proud of what I’ve accomplished so far, but I’m even more excited about what’s to come. I’m always looking for new challenges and opportunities to push the envelope as a marketing professional, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
From that, I’ve developed lasting relationships and friendships in the media and in my personal connection, and outside of that, and it’s really great when people recognize the work that you’ve put in and it’s always exciting when you’re going through the garden section at Lowe’s and someone recognizes you and says they follow you or hey, I just read your blog that was so inspiring. So I’m starting to really see the fruits of my labor and I cannot wait to see what’s next.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.marketingmezzo.com
- Instagram: @marketing_mezzo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megan.waltersmiller
- Linkedin: marketingmezzo
- Twitter: @marketing_mezzo