Maybe we should just build an underground tunnel from The Speak Easy to Well Done Marketing.
Over the past couple of years, several people who previously spent their days at the popular south Broad Ripple co-working space have become part of the Well Done team. First came Amy McAdams-Gonzales, then Brittany Mason, and now, Tori Walker.
Prior to accepting the Assistant Account Executive position here at Well Done, Tori served as the Speak Easy’s Experience Manager. What does an Experience Manager do, you ask?
We wondered that, too. So we asked her about it—and about lots of other stuff—in the Q&A below. Read on to learn about Tori’s love for kebabs, her trailblazing great-grandmother Tommie, and her abiding passion for a TV show that most people don’t realize is still on the air.
First thing’s first: Did you pursue a career in marketing, or did you stumble into it by accident like so many of the rest of us?
Yes, and no. To tell you that I always knew I wanted to be in marketing would be a lie, but it’s also not something I ever ruled out. Marketing has always interested me.
Previously you were “Experience Manager” at the Speak Easy. That’s an unusual title. What did it entail?
Very unusual title, but it fit the all-encompassing role I held there. The Speak Easy is a non-profit coworking space for entrepreneurs. They provide a place for startups, freelancers, and established businesses to come together and work among one another. As the Experience Manager, I oversaw member relations, communications, and operations for the organization. That said, we were a team of two so the job came with the understanding and ability to be able to jump in and take care of whatever needed to get done on any given day.
A few years ago, you interned at Quaglino’s in London. What three things do you miss most about London?
- The food. There was a kabob place—like an out-of-this-world, amazing kabob place—that I passed every day on the walk to and from my flat and the nearest Tube station. It was dangerous.
- The transit. The Tube is clean, efficient, and idiot-proof. I could get anywhere in the city in under 30 minutes.
- Proximity to travel. This is probably what I miss the most. The ability to pick up and go to another country just for the weekend can’t be beat.
Prior to that, you interned at Walker Information. Any relation?
Yes, indeed. Walker was started by my great-grandma, Tommie Walker, in 1939. She started out by conducting door-to-door surveys for local businesses like grocery stores. Essentially, she would ask consumers to test certain brands of products and then provide insight back to the businesses on how they could better position certain items to sell in the store. Tommie was a pretty cool woman, especially for her time.
Let’s talk semi-seriously about marketing for a second. What drew you to the field? What do you love about it?
I love that marketing is so people-oriented and ever-changing. Every day is new and I feel like I’m constantly learning.
So, why Well Done? What made you think, “Yeah, that’s the place for me?”
A lot of things drew me to Well Done, but the people were the biggest draw. The people here are incredibly talented and it’s reflected in the work Well Done produces.
You’ve been here for a month so far. Impressions? You can be honest.
Honestly, it’s been awesome! When I told people I had accepted a position with Well Done they had nothing but great things to say about the agency. Now that I’m a month in, I can confidently say that Well Done lives up to its hype. I’m really excited to be here.
In the best possible world, where will you be career-wise in 10 years?
A decade from now is hard to predict, but I see myself continuing to grow professionally and ultimately managing client accounts. Right now, I think that starts with listening and learning. As an assistant account executive, I get to work behind the scenes to help make a client successful and I feel fortunate to be working alongside the team here.
What’s your super power?
Names. I’m great with names.
This is the last question of the interview. As a welcoming gesture, we’ll let you write it. (And answer it, too, of course).
What’s your favorite TV show? Well, I’m so glad you asked. That would be Big Brother. Yes, it is still a show and yes, I still watch it. In fact, I have been watching Big Brother for the past 17 years. That’s over half of my life. You could say I’m a loyal fan. If you ever want to chat in depth about BB strategy, hit me up.