Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Freeman.
Hi Brenda, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
For the past 2o years, I have lived at the intersection of great brands, technology, and culture. My journey started as a technologist, I was born into a family of engineers, engineers that shared a love of creativity and the arts. Growing up I was surrounded by musical performers, vocal artistry, indie theater, and poetry. That early exposure stuck with me and totally influenced some of the choices I have made in life. I started my career as a design engineer but after grad school, I quickly fell in love with brand marketing. Hugely passionate about consumer trends and the power of great storytelling, I was fortunate to work for a number of iconic leaders in the entertainment and media industry at its inflection point, the beginning of digital disruption. The era of Napster and the “little-known” video rental company, Netflix. Fast forward a few years, I held several Chief Marketing Officer titles for major media companies during this era and became a student of customer-first transformation strategies, which required a complete overhaul of the traditional marketing playbook that I was taught at Pepsi-Cola and Frito-Lay. Fast forward, I returned to my technical roots. I moved to Miami to become Chief Marketing Officer for the wunderkind, multi-billion-dollar augmented reality metaverse company, Magic Leap. What a wild and inspiring ride, to work alongside some of the brightest colleagues ever, solving hard problems. I had to create a completely new go-to-market playbook for a new product with disruptive future forward use cases. I fell in love with Miami after that and decided to build roots here. I am passionate about the arts, being active in my Wynwood neighborhood with Bakehouse Art Complex serving as a board member, Ambassador of the Black Art Fund for PAMM, and enthusiastic art collector and mentor to many entrepreneurs in the area.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I do not believe there is such a thing as a “smooth road” if someone has truly lived a full life, and yea man, I have lived! I was one of only three females that graduated with a Chemical Engineering degree from the University of Maryland, and the only female POC. Although a school of thousands, I felt very isolated and struggled with the curriculum. I was quite proud that I graduated with a respectable GPA. That set the tone for most of my career, being the “only”, however, you want to define I was comfortable being the “only” it, in the room and vowed that when in a chair of influence to absolutely make it count and bring others along up the ladder with me. I was the first female and also the first African American board director for Under Armour. As my first public board seat, I know I made many mistakes and definitely felt the “imposter syndrome” that female leaders speak so frequently about. I also spent most of the storied years of my career in c-suites as a single mom, who commuted out of state most of my kids’ school years. After some reflection, I realized that the grit I demonstrated as a tough, independent, headstrong middle child, and little girl bode well for the resilient, joyful, don’t look back type of woman I have become.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Well, I spent a lot of time in the previous section speaking about my career. I think my left brain, and right brain orientation are what distinguishes me. I love storytelling and creativity as much as great technology. I see the two things as symbiotic, technology is the enabler in making one’s life better. I guess you can call me a forever learner and a modernist. Currently, I advise a digital marketing performance company and also sit on several public boards. I also remain active in my Wynwood community.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
To allow space for dreaming and then to actualize those dreams. It took me a minute to understand the power of expansive thinking. I grew up in a family that was somewhat conventional and risk-averse, I was not exposed to entrepreneurship until later in life and realized how powerful and freeing it can be when you depend on your own talents. I find myself attracted to friends that exhibit these traits, I also married an attorney with these traits, he manages a busy, successful practice.
Contact Info:
- Website: joyeuxmarketing.com
- Instagram: @bcfree002
- Twitter: @bcfree002
