PUBLIC RELATIONS and COMMUNICATIONS – This spotlight series features T. Howard Foundation (THF) alumnae working in Public Relations and Communications.
Carson Ward (THF ’14)
Senior Marketing Manager, Iced Media
What do you enjoy most about your company?
Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic isolated us I started spending a lot more time on self-care, from baths to masks. I just loved how an Epsom salt bath soothed my muscles after working from home all day or a scented skin care mask kept me feeling fresh when it was so easy to feel like you were losing yourself.
At Iced Media, what I enjoy most is that I get to promote this idea of taking time for yourself and bring self-care to the forefront. Our agency helps craft the image and communications of some of the most valuable, beauty/wellness/lifestyle-driven brands in the world.
In what way did this type of work interest you and how did you get started?
I was brought on by Iced President, Leslie Hall, to project manage a virtual marketing event with Fat Mascara hosts Jessica Matlin and Jennifer Goldstein for Moroccanoil. I always enjoyed working on marketing, from promotional events to activations; so this of course was an awesome project to work on and the perfect entry into beauty and wellness.
The virtual event (called Masterclass) was a success. It made for a good laugh at a much-needed time as Jessica and Jennifer — hot tool novices like myself — tried to learn from a professional stylist how to style their hair using a curling wand. Let’s just say it’s not easy; but it was fun to watch and closely replicated the joy of real-world events pre-COVID-19.
I’ve been with the Iced Media team ever since. Today I continue to blend both project management and marketing into my role as Senior Marketing Manager, working on a number of exciting projects including a full agency rebrand!
Has your career path been linear or non-linear?
Well I started my career in telecommunications, and then transitioned into fashion, music, entertainment and beauty — in that order. I think it’s safe to say my career path is nonlinear.
How has your affiliation with the T. Howard Foundation influenced your career?
After almost ten years since being accepted into the T. Howard Foundation, I still sing the internship program’s praises from the rooftops. I always will say that T. Howard was instrumental in steering my career in the right direction.
At T. Howard, I was able to learn career etiquette early so that I could put my best foot forward from the jump and avoid any detrimental career pitfalls. Most notably, I left the orientation for incoming interns with a certain polish that has stuck with me to this day.
What personal attributes have been essential to your career success?
I 100% attribute my career success to motivation and perseverance. I’m fanatically driven and no matter what obstacles arise, I’ll find my way and never give up.
If you show up and make the most out of each day, you can’t tell me that there won’t be a day where it counts.
Are you extroverted or introverted? How does this show up in your professional life and how has this trait benefited you professionally?
Some days I find myself to be introverted; other days, I’m extroverted. Most often it comes down to the environment. I experience a bit of anxiousness when in huge crowds but thrive in intimate settings, for example.
Lucky for me, this has its benefits. Understanding that I fully engage in intimate settings, I leverage this when choosing ways to relationship-build and end up feeling like I’m building more authentic and meaningful professional (and personal) relationships versus trying to have a productive conversation and get to know someone at a venue like the club (lol).
Carson’s Piece of Advice:
My advice is not to be afraid of trying different things and making new discoveries along the way. I’m a firm believer that varied experiences allow you to break the mold, think differently and bring fresh ideas to the table by pulling from other industries/perspectives in ways that are your own.