Deacon Spotlight: Maddie Faria

Maddie Faria (2023, BA in Communication, Minors in Marketing Communication and Politics)

Strategist at Corner Table Creative in New York, NY

Tell us about your current job role and employer. What are you currently working on?

I’m a Strategist at Corner Table Creative, a female-founded advertising agency in New York. As a strategist, my job is to help articulate business goals and campaign objectives in a way that feels real and resonates with people. I’m often collaborating with many teams, from design to media, to develop brand strategies for our clients and create content that grabs attention. I also help keep projects organized and everyone on the same page from first idea to final deliverables.

I’m currently working on defining a social strategy for Lobos 1707, a tequila brand, in addition to a paid social strategy for Starbucks. Every day looks different, which I love.

What key personal and/or career experiences led you to where you are today?

In the Comm department at Wake, I was able to try such a broad variety of courses, from hostage negotiation to the marketing classes that initially got me interested in this career path. Having that variety was really important as someone who walked into Wake totally unsure of what I wanted to do.

Personally, I’ve always loved telling stories – each project or internship that I got to articulate a strategy or idea into a tangible thing that could make an impact was what got me interested in strategy.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job? How do you navigate that challenge?

When I was in school, I never thought I had the skills to work as a creative — I didn’t have any art or design experience, so I always imagined myself on the account or project management side of an agency. Starting at Corner Table as a creative strategist ended up being a great fit — and I learned I was much more creative than I gave myself credit for — but I’ve had to navigate some imposter syndrome along the way.

Working in a creative field, I’ve found it’s essential to be open to evolving and always look for new places to be inspired. You have to take a lot of ego out of the work and be open to trying and failing until you get it right. I’ve also loved finding ways to blend the tactical and logical side of my brain with the creative to really make projects my own.

What advice would you give to Wake Forest graduates about developing their personal life habits after college (finances, health, values, work/life balance)?

It’s easier said than done, but stop looking at what everyone else is doing as you figure it all out. I often went wrong by measuring my progress against everyone else in my class, and kicking myself for not being in the same place as my friends. No one has the exact same experiences or path as you, so it does so much more harm than good.

Also, find a hobby outside of work! It’s so fun to have something to look forward to every day, or even every week.

We know that relationships are important for any kind of development. How do you build and maintain your network?

It’s really important to always stay curious. I’ve found that reaching out to people on LinkedIn, whether they’re Wake grads or mutual connections, is a harmless way to continue practicing putting yourself out there, even if you’re not on the job hunt.

I’d also say it’s been really important to me to keep paying it forward and talking to students or recent post-grads who reach out — I’m so grateful to have been connected to the founders of my agency through a connection of a connection of a connection, so I know how far a small gesture like a phone call can go.

Tell us about your mentoring relationships. What impact have these relationships had on your career and life?

While at Wake, I had the privilege of having mentors in the Comm department who walked me through all of the different opportunities in the marketing industry. Their advice was invaluable in helping me articulate what I wanted and was best suited for.

At Corner Table, I’m lucky to have women that are pioneers in their field as mentors and who have invested in my growth since I was an intern. I credit so much of my success in my role to starting my career at a small agency where my ideas were not only encouraged, but implemented across our clients and our agency. I’ve noticed that many Wake alums start out at huge corporations, but I can’t recommend enough starting your career somewhere small where you can grow and get more 1:1 mentorship.

What advice would you give to current Wake Forest students and/or young alumni who are interested in working in your industry?

The job hunt in the advertising space (especially in the agency landscape) works differently than most other industries — a lot of agencies don’t hire until applicants are ready to work, so having a job lined up months in advance isn’t always possible. This was a tough learning curve as a student, especially when your peers are getting job offers at the beginning of senior year. Take the time senior year to network as much as you can, and keep up with those people throughout the year so that when you’re looking for work post-graduation, those new connections have you top of mind.

Additionally, I wish I had been open to an internship position after graduating instead of limiting my scope to full-time roles. A lot of agencies will only hire someone with agency experience, and most times those internships can turn into a full-time role — so it’s worth the time, and the barrier to entry is a lot lower.

What’s next for your career? What future goals or plans are you pursuing?

While most of my career has been spent on the creative side of social media campaigns, I’ve recently stepped into a more account management/brand strategy centered role. I’m really excited to bring that creative approach to our client relationships.

I’m also really passionate about developing young talent in the advertising space, so I’m excited to be helping build our internal internship and early career programs here at Corner Table.

Story published in February 2026. For current updates about Maddie, visit her LinkedIn profile.