One of the things I love about Personify is the opportunity to make an impact on a range of nonprofits and associations doing fantastic work, such as Habitat for Humanity and Alzheimer’s Association. I get to help them achieve their goals through using our technology while also benefiting from being part of the private sector.
Erin Geoffroy Sullivan, Director of Brand, Enterprise and Client Marketing
What has been your career journey and how did it lead you to Personify?
I worked for various organizations, including government, healthcare and nonprofit and also obtained my MBA. I was passionate about the work I was doing in marketing in the nonprofit world; however, once I completed my MBA, it was challenging to find a nonprofit role that met my compensation needs and desire for a robust marketing strategy and tech stack. One of the things I love about Personify is the opportunity to make an impact on a range of nonprofits and associations doing fantastic work, such as Habitat for Humanity and Alzheimer’s Association. I get to help them achieve their goals through using our technology while also benefiting from being part of the private sector. I still get to tell stories about organizations doing impactful things in a voice that resonates with their missions. Because I’ve worked for a nonprofit and many of my colleagues have as well, we can draw on our experience to share how technology can empower these organizations to make the most of their limited resources, including both staff and budget.
Joining Personify enabled me to return to the type of work that held meaning for me, and in my time here, we have grown quite a bit and my responsibilities have as well. I’ve moved from a Sr Marketing Manager focused on Brand and PR efforts to taking on Demand Generation, leading all of our Enterprise solutions, including ThreeSixty and CommUnity, and all of our client marketing, as the Director of Brand, Enterprise and Client Marketing.
Can you talk about the acquisitions and culture?
I have been through three acquisitions, including WildApricot, A2Z Events and MemberClicks. Each acquisition has been a little different in terms of the personalities, experiences and working styles each team member brings. While there can be challenges integrating processes, each team has brought positive things to our culture and portfolio. From the quirky startup folks to the service-oriented Clickers, we greatly benefited from new ideas and approaches.
How do you know you are making an impact here?
One thing that excites me the most is when we can talk to clients about the amazing things they do with their members and on behalf of their organizations or industries. We empower these incredible organizations to grow their membership, increase their impact and to raise funds more effectively.
We host events and webinars that draw in thousands of people to learn more about our clients and our technology. In a recent webinar, one of our clients shared how she and her team created and promoted a new online community to their members and how the community serves as a safe space that enhances collaboration between their members. The work we do here directly enables our clients to move their mission forward – and that feels like a true win for me, both professionally and personally.
What do you get to do here that you might not be able to do elsewhere?
I often describe our marketing team as a bit scrappy. I don’t have a strictly defined swim lane where I only do a certain number of things each day. My days really vary from building our brand strategy to running demand gen programs, working a trade show booth and creating compelling digital webinars. Our marketing team structure provides flexibility so that I get to try new things each day and do things outside my comfort zone.
In addition, we stand behind our clients and their causes whenever we can. We’ve participated in our clients’ fundraising walks and events, and we provide paid volunteer days as an employee benefit. Our marketing team organized a volunteer day where everyone took time off to support a nonprofit of their choice. I chose to volunteer with the Multicultural Refugee Coalition, which is an Austin-based nonprofit that employs refugees. I was able to spend the day planting vegetables, pulling out weeds and literally getting my hands dirty with the MRC team. I had colleagues that volunteered with the animal shelter, collected books for underprivileged schools and more. I really appreciate the opportunity to be able to take a step back from our daily lives to see and be part of the human-centered work we help bring to light.
What advice would you offer someone considering a role at Personify?
Our leadership team has been really intentional about defining our core values and what we stand for. These are more than words on a webpage; they are embedded into our deliverables, daily conversations and organizational meetings. This is an environment where you have a voice – and a set of flags! We’re encouraged to actively listen and respond during sessions, holding up words like “Simplicity” or “Optimism” to remind everyone of our motivators. It’s a fun but powerful way to foster a culture focused on our bigger purpose.
What do you like to do for fun and free time?
I live in Austin, which is renowned for live music, so that is something I genuinely enjoy taking part in. Or, I did, before the pandemic and having a baby. I also like to hike and go on nature walks, and I’m excited to spend this coming August working in and exploring Colorado. It’s another benefit of being part of the Personify team – we were remote before we had to be, and now we are a remote-first culture, so you have the ability to work from other cities and states, which is amazing.
People of Personify
The “People of Personify” is a multi-part series featuring profiles and interviews with leaders and talented team members at Personify who are driving innovation for professional associations and event management partners.
If our values align with what you want to do and where you want to work, you will love it here. We’re currently hiring for a number of different positions. You can read more about our open opportunities and apply here.