I am so blessed and honored. Last March in 2020, I started a new job with the Bank of Utah. I have to say, I really love it. It’s everything I ever liked about my career choice all rolled up into one job. I regularly tell my boss he pays me to have fun. Who can say that?
Now, apart from me getting a new job, there was one other significant event that happened in March 2020 that affected the world over: Covid-19. It was so odd starting my new job in the midst of a Pandemic. Grant it, back then I thought it would quickly get under control and people would be back to working in offices within a couple of weeks. When it became clear that this was not going to happen, we had to shift the way we marketed to our customers at the bank. Luckily, I had a few years of experience under my belt in doing digital marketing while at McCann. Also luckily, I have a great family and internet access to see how the world was dealing with the covid virus as well which gave me an idea.
I proposed the idea of a Chow Down Challenge to my new boss and I was delighted when he quickly caught on to the idea and told me to run with it. So I did. Brand new at the bank, I began making preparations for our new social campaign. See: Chow Down Challenge for the details of the social campaign.
After the successful campaign, we decided to enter it for an award and . . . we won the Sales and Marketer of the Year award put on by Utah Business! It was an amazing opportunity. My boss graciously allowed me to accept the award for the bank. We went to the award ceremony where I was given another great opportunity to give the acceptance speech and receive the award.
I was thankful that we were able to attend the award ceremony in person. Initially–due to everyone’s favorite virus–we were going to do the award ceremony virtually. I was so sure things were going to get canceled or I was going to end up with Covid right before the luncheon that I was hardly nervous for the event. But then the day came and I was exceptionally nervous. I didn’t eat a thing while I waited for my turn to go up and accept the award. Waiters kept coming by asking if there was something wrong with my food or if they could take any of my plates away. I told them I was simply waiting to eat before going up. No one wants to go give a speech after having just eaten. What if I ended up with spinach in my teeth?!
When they finally called my name I went up and gave my speech. See the video here. Skip to 26 minutes if you just want to see my bit. They told us to speak for 10 minutes or so. I think mine was shorter than that but I think it went well. Then I graciously went back down to attend to my tomato basil soup. It was divine.
The whole thing was an experience I will never forget. It reminded me of back in college when some classmates and I won a Gold Abby for our Road to the Shire project. It reminded me why I love marketing and the power that it has in the world. It also inspired me to continue to work hard and come up with more fun ideas to execute at the Bank of Utah.
I hope there are more award ceremonies in my future. But if there isn’t I am so glad I was able to have this amazing opportunity.
