Member Spotlight: Christy Wylie

Each month AWC Austin will highlight one very special member making a difference in the communications industry in Austin, Texas. This month, we feature Christy Wylie chair of AWC Austin’s professional development conference, Get Smart.  She’s an experienced educator, communication and entrepreneur. Her mantra is “Minds-open, hands-on,” and so appropriate for the creative industry. Read on to learn more about her business, Mantra Marketing and how she is helping the Austin community communicate. 

AWC AUSTIN: How long have you been a member of AWC Austin and what originally prompted you to join?
CW: I’ve been a member since September of ’08, so coming up on three years. When I first joined, I was an in-house marketing director for a real estate developer. For about five years solid, I had been in working in real estate development, which is a “good ol’ boy” network. I call it “The Cowboy Complex!” The industry isn’t just male-dominated but “cowboy” dominated so I was desperate for strong, professional female influences. I knew I wanted to get out of that industry and use my marketing skills in a broader sense across industries. I began looking for connections in marketing and public relations industries. Even if I didn’t have a mentor, I just needed to be around strong women – AWC has that in spades.

AWC AUSTIN: Tell me about Get Smart. What new things are unfolding this year?
CW: Our theme is ‘Keeping the Muse Alive: Nurturing Inspiration & Creativity Against the Odds.’ The theme made sense because I’m a one-person business like many of our members and, in one way or another, we’re all in creative industries. Now, more so than ever, everything in our environment is constricted by limitations; budgets, the bottom line, deadlines, and so forth. It’s challenging to be creative and produce creatively in this environment. We constantly need renewal to help us rejuvenate and stay fresh. That’s why I’m really excited about our speakers! We have Tim Levy and Sarah Bird for our keynotes. We also have some exciting breakout speakers; a documentarian, a screenwriter, and a collaborative session between a graphic designer and a copywriter who have a great work history. We’re still talking to our fourth speaker, so stay tuned! October 21st is the big day so be sure to register soon.

AWC AUSTIN: Tell me about your experiences teaching and some things you took away from that.
CW: When I was a teacher I never had any concept that I’d become a professional communicator. I was a teacher because I had an English degree and I didn’t know what else to do. But it taught me to be comfortable in front of a crowd. When you’re in a classroom with 30 juveniles, you have to constantly match their energy. I learned to be onstage, energetic, and prepared. Teaching in the Czech Republic was a different experience because I taught private classes and in businesses. Students were there because they wanted to be there. Communism had ended about 10 years prior but it was still fairly regimented. They were better educated and multilingual. They had a much more serious attitude towards learning so I handled it with slightly different gloves.

AWC AUSTIN: What is the main difference in crafting a message for students and crafting a message for a consumer audience?
CW: Both are similar in that you have to package things in a way you can sell it and make it palatable. The main difference is that hopefully, our students have a certain amount of in a way you can’t assume consumers do. You are not attempting to push an agenda or manipulate students in any way. I don’t think that is unethical in the marketplace. With teaching, it’s more of a Socratic process to teach critical thinking skills so that students can arrive at their own conclusions. In marketing, we want to lead consumers directly to the conclusion.

AWC AUSTIN: What spurred you to start your own business, Mantra Marketing, and how have you gone about building and establishing it in Austin?
CW: After losing my job, I knew I had to do something different. I quickly realized that it was easier to find clients than it was to find a full time job! I interviewed for a job at particular nonprofit with a low budget and I knew going in, the salary was going to be too low. We built a good rapport during the interview and I suggested they consider hiring me on a contract basis in order to save them money. They went for it and that’s how I accidentally started my business! After that, I went into a networking frenzy for about a year and a half. I have a degree in English and philosophy and felt like I needed a shot in the arm when it came to meeting people in the industry and learning the lingo. AWC played really big part in helping me build a supportive professional network. There are so many people in AWC that I rely on as professional resources. I can call and get advice, subcontract work back and forth, and receive an ongoing education. AWC is truly a professional network that people have to have.

AWC AUSTIN: You have a great mantra; “minds-open, hands-on.” Tell me about how that developed.
CW: When I was writing my website content, I felt lost. I write website content for other people all the time but when you’re writing about yourself or for yourself, it can be difficult! Originally, it just came to me as a sound bite but it means that the creative process is both a mental and physical process. One without the other is no good. Keep your mind open and let ideas come to you and manifest. But ideas by themselves are no good. You have to be willing to get hands dirty, get in there, and get the work done.

AWC AUSTIN: How does Freelance Austin help your business thrive?
CW: Their programming is really strong and helps me keep on top of trends and issues. I work for myself and it’s on my dime. It’s important to stay abreast on what’s happening. And Freelance Austin really makes that education accessible and affordable.

AWC AUSTIN: What developments do you see taking place in the Austin communications scene?
CW: Because I don’t consider myself a veteran, it’s hard to comment on developments in my three years on the scene. However, obvious developments are social media and technology in general. Those are not area of expertise so I won’t bluff through that! But I think that the heart of being a communicator doesn’t change. It’s about looking for universal truths and presenting them in a clear, original way people can relate to. Our pace and mediums through which we do that will change but the heart of it stays the same.