My name is Abby Hathorn Wyatt, and I am a Creative Strategist at Ascend Strategy & Design. I have over 5 years of communication and marketing experience with a background in blogging, television, and radio broadcasting.
As a small town Mississippi girl with big dreams, I started chasing a career in media and communications at the age of 16. It all started with a fashion blog--you know, back before being an Instagram influencer was even a thing. *wink*
The success of Vintage Inspired Passionista motivated me to learn everything I could about content writing, social marketing, and graphic design—all while juggling getting my high school diploma. By 17, I was running my own site and social channels, building marketing strategies, expanding the business, and writing syndicated columns for local newspapers and magazines.
As a small town Mississippi girl with big dreams, I started chasing a career in media and communications at the age of 16. It all started with a fashion blog--you know, back before being an Instagram influencer was even a thing. *wink*
The success of Vintage Inspired Passionista motivated me to learn everything I could about content writing, social marketing, and graphic design—all while juggling getting my high school diploma. By 17, I was running my own site and social channels, building marketing strategies, expanding the business, and writing syndicated columns for local newspapers and magazines.
During my blogging career, I had the opportunity to interview fashion designers and celebrities like Ty Pennington, Matt Muenster, Donald J. Pliner, Ken Laurence, Betsey Johnson, Rebecca Minkoff, and others. From big-time celebs to small-town veterans, my passion for telling people’s stories inspired me to pursue a degree in journalism.
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My college career started humbly at a small community college in Northeast Tennessee. It was there I found a love of using video and storytelling for the good of the community. In 2016 at Northeast State Community College, I was named Outstanding Mass Communications Student of the Year, as well as and one of the top 10 students of the year.
I received a scholarship to Emory & Henry College where I continued to learn the ins-and-outs of broadcasting journalism. I was a host for the college’s television station and the head editor for the campus newspaper. In 2017, I was given the Alf Goodykoontz Award for my dedication to the department and outstanding work in journalism. After interning at a television station and working at a radio station after college, I realized the world of journalism I once fell in love with didn’t really exist anymore. The market was no longer about compelling and informative storytelling, instead, it had warped into negative reports and argumentative talking heads. So, I looked back to my roots of blogging and social marketing. |
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In 2019, I worked at Crown Laboratories as their Social Media Influencer Specialist and helped in the successful launch of the re-branded Blue Lizard Sunscreen products. I carried out themed sample boxes for influencers to blog and post about on their social media channels and websites. I also planned and executed a Sesame Street partnership launch party with influencers in Santa Monica, California, generating almost 6 million organic impressions and 79 organic placements. We later repeated this with a similar event in New York City. |
My passion for storytelling and love of marketing motivated me to succeed and take on new challenges in the automotive aftermarket industry. Huge switch, I know. *wink* For two years, I worked at The AAM Group as their Marketing Coordinator where I handled social media across five channels, acted as the Market Research Analyst, Brand Manager, Social Media Manager, and video team co-lead. |
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In 2021, I took a leap of faith and left the traditional office for the fully-remote life with Ascend. After a year, I was promoted from a Marketing Specialist to a Creative Strategist. Working with a variety of B2B and B2C clients everyday is a dream come true, and I can't wait to see what the future holds! In my spare time, I love getting my hands dirty with home improvement projects with my husband and going for runs with my two Goldendoodles, Oakley and Patton. |
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