Page 41 - The Paduan Summer 2021

Alumni Spotlight:
Ann Mack ’93
Facebook’s Director of Business Solutions Marketing
Padua Franciscan alumna, Ann Mack ’93, followed a unique career path from a crime beat reporter for the Mansfield News Journal in Mansfield, Ohio to her current role as the Director of Business Solutions Marketing for Facebook in San Francisco.
Journalism has always been Ann’s first love; perhaps it began when she was a paper girl delivering the Cleveland Plain Dealer! As a Padua student, Ann discovered the joy of writing and presenting in English and Speech classes with Mrs. Karen Miller and Mr. John Mayer (dec’d.), respectively. She still uses the techniques taught in Mr. Mayer’s Speech class on how to “own the room” when making a presentation. She recalls one particular exercise in which Mr. Mayer had students dramatically deliver the famous Mark Twain line: “Do the thing you fear the most and the death of fear is certain.” Ann also continues to taps into guidance from Mrs. Miller on how to “write tight” and summarize points succinctly.
That passion led Ann to major in journalism at The Ohio State University. Following graduation from OSU in 1997, Ann’s journalism career began with covering the crime beat for the Mansfield News Journal, an intense, life-changing job. (Mansfield is the home to the Mansfield Correctional Institute and the Old Reformatory, where parts of The Shawshank Redemption were filmed.) Penton Media in Cleveland was Ann’s next post before she moved in 2000 to the media capital of the world, New York City. There she worked as a reporter and editor for Adweek, covering digital advertising for five years before joining J. Walter Thompson, what was then one of the biggest ad agencies in the world. At J. Walter Thompson,
as the Director of Trendspotting, Ann collaborated closely with researchers to understand and
articulate major consumer, cultural and technological shifts and worked with clients to turn those shifts into opportunities for their brands and businesses. Ann’s next career move led her to Facebook on the West Coast.
In 2014, Ann joined the launch team for Facebook IQ, Facebook’s insights practice that offers studies and resources to fuel marketing and business transformations. It put Ann at the cutting edge of tectonic shifts in marketing trends. In her current role as Director of Business Solutions Marketing, Ann and her team inspire and enable businesses to maximize their potential on Facebook and beyond. Ann leads the business marketing teams responsible for Facebook’s Performance, Commerce, Brand, Integrity, Vertical and Measurement solutions across its platforms.
The move to Facebook and Silicon Valley after 15 years in NYC was an adjustment, but Ann soon found that her love of the outdoors and technology were a perfect fit.
Ann’s advice to Padua Bruins whether just starting their careers, or making a career change, is not to be afraid to take the leap into something you feel passionate about doing; you don’t have to meet every single job requirement. “If it’s oriented towards you, you’ll check three-quarters of those boxes and it’s okay if you don’t check that last quarter,” she says. “If the job doesn’t stretch you in new and interesting ways, then why consider it?” Ann also encourages Bruins to set goals and hold themselves accountable. Every year on her birthday, Ann writes her vision of where she wants to be in one year professionally, personally and spiritually. She shares this vision with friends, so they can help keep her accountable.
Padua classmates may remember Ann as the energetic cheerleader – or the talented student who performed in several of Mrs. Tammy Plasterer’s theatre productions, including the roles of Meg Brockie in Brigadoon and Amaryllis in Music Man. Ann keeps in touch with her Padua peeps through ... what else ... Facebook! When asked why she is an avid supporter of Padua, even though years and miles separate her from us, Ann replied that Padua instilled in her a strong faith and provided a great education; by giving back, she can help today’s Bruins receive a similar foundation at Padua Franciscan.
In spite of her full work life, she still makes time for fun. As an avid runner, she has participated in marathons in New York City, Chicago, Honolulu and Iceland. Yoga is also part of her regular routine for nurturing the mind, body and soul. Ann looks forward to returning to being a world traveler and adding to the list of places she’s been which include the UK, France, Denmark, Sweden, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Russia, Argentina and Brazil.
What I’ve learned so far:
Set a yearly vision for yourself & hold yourself accountable
Start by starting
Be open to new things Follow your curiosity Be a life-long learner
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