This month, we sat down with Account Director Megan Lucero to chat about her journey in the marketing world, her leadership philosophy, and how she unwinds when she’s not putting out client fires.
How did you find your way into marketing and agency life?
I was originally a journalism major at TCU, but I ended up taking some advertising and marketing classes that really interested me, so I made the switch to strategic communications. From there, I worked at a med spa in Fort Worth doing their marketing before transitioning to my first agency job. I was drawn to agency life because I knew it would give me more variety. I wanted the opportunity to work on a wider range of marketing and clients than I could in-house, and I was hopeful it would provide a fun, lively environment filled with creative people.
What initially drew you to client services and account management?
It always felt like a natural fit. Even in school, I always gravitated toward leadership roles. I view account management a lot like being the conductor of an orchestra. You have to do things just right to get everyone working in sync. You’re at the center of the relationship, getting the right information, asking the right questions, and relaying it to the team in a way that sets everyone up for success.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Since I manage a team, the most rewarding part is being able to help my team members grow and watch them succeed. On the account side, it’s when I feel like I’m asking the right questions to help the final product be stronger or the process go smoother. It’s like teeing up all the players to do what they do best, and then watching them succeed in whatever they create.
What is your philosophy when it comes to leading and mentoring your internal team?
I try to lead by example. As a new manager, it took me a minute to realize that my team didn’t always need or want my help solving their problems the exact same way I’d solve a client’s problems. Over time, I’ve come to realize that while they sometimes want guidance, and other times they really just want someone they can confide in and listen. If you just try to tick a box and solve a problem, you can stunt the relationship. There is also huge value in showing your team that it is okay to stumble as you learn. It creates an environment that feels safe, and where they don’t feel like they always have to be perfect.
What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received?
There are two things that I lean on constantly. The first is hearing that it is okay to not be perfect, and that we will figure it out when we stumble. The second piece of advice is trust your gut. I’ve learned to listen to that quiet voice on intuition. It’s there for a reason and can be one of your strongest assets.
What’s a brand you love and admire? Why?
Fishwife really stands out to me. I love their origin story, they have a great product with such beautiful and fun packaging. They were able to reshape a generally “brandless” category of canned fish products. They leaned into the trends of snack boards and “girl dinners” in such an authentic way have expanded with some really interesting collabs (Lisa Says Gah, Fly by Jing, Bixby Chocolate, East Fork, etc.), merch extensions and holiday/limited time bundles. Big fishwife fan over here!
When you aren’t managing accounts or putting out fires, how do you spend your downtime?
I love going to the movies! I’m an AMC A-Lister, so I try to see at least one movie a week. I also have a pretty aggressive reading goal for myself this year, so I always have a couple of books I’m reading. Lastly, I like to explore different creative hobbies, so I just signed up for an oil painting class this summer.
If you could instantly become an expert in one entirely new skill, what would it be?
I would love to be a ceramicist or glassblower. It would allow me to expand my mug and drinkware collection with my own pieces and would also make really great gifts (my love language).