Meet Samantha Furry, Anne Durrum Robinson Creative Initiative Award Winner

By Leslie Jones

Samantha Furry is a marketer, a dancer and a veritable wellspring of creativity, which is why she will be honored this coming Saturday, April 12, at the annual WCA Banner Brunch.

Samantha earned degrees in dance and marketing from Texas State University in San Marcos, and has a broad spectrum of experience: she worked as the Creative Arts Director at Chimney Corners Camp for Girls, she served as a public relations and social media specialist for a start-up advertising firm, and now she is a marketing and development specialist focusing on technology management.

When she isn’t working, Samantha serves on the WCA board as the Student Liaison. She also performs with the Austin-based Shay Ishii Dance Company, is a semi-avid runner, and has daily adventures with her Border Collie Henry. At the end of the day, it’s all about Henry, she says.

Here, she shares more about her journey thus far:

WCA: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced at this point in your career?

Samantha: When I first graduated college in 2008, I had a degree in dance and quickly found that I truly didn’t know what I wanted to do. After taking some time away from school, I realized this was my chance to push myself beyond my comfort zone and redefine what I could achieve in my career.

Finishing my marketing degree in 2012 put me behind people my age. I was starting in the work force, beginning to build my career and many were almost at the 5-year mark, earning higher salaries, receiving promotions and all around knowing more about the work world than I did. That was a difficult fact to accept, but I ultimately decided to put my blinders on. The only way I could move forward was to quit checking out what was in my periphery.

WCA: How does dance impact your work in communications?

Samantha: Dance is largely about making what you have at hand look great, and I’ve found that’s also characteristic of communications. Both the dancer and the professional communicator are constantly asking themselves, “How can I best position this? What’s the option that optimizes our strengths and is still true to our intention?” Working together, being resourceful and staying optimistic: these are things I find in both of these creative fields.

WCA: Describe the most challenging aspect of your job.

Samantha: I find the most challenges in my current role tend to fall into the idea of translating. Not only translating IT products, services and programs into a digestible message for existing and potential customers, but translating for coworkers who have different communication styles.

Recently, I was talking with a young professional who just landed her first job about how sometimes the hardest part of work isn’t the work itself, but communicating and translating with peers. That’s when you’re really grateful for your experience in communications!

WCA: What do you wish to accomplish in your career?

Samantha: Whatever I’m doing, I hope I’m able to help along the way. Whether it’s mentoring students, advising an intern, or managing a group of people, I hope I’m helping someone succeed and push themselves.

I look back on all those who I strive to be like, and realize that they were all kind to me. My goal in my career is to pay it forward.

WCA: Describe your most rewarding WCA experience to date.

Samantha: Establishing the student-focused Speed Mentoring event was truly worthwhile. There was an opportunity to redefine the mentor relationship for students, and both the professional and student members were enthusiastic. We have a great system in place for students to gain confidence and build long-lasting conversations with our wealth of industry experts. The other aspect is that the model easily transfers to any environment.

Building a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere for students to ask questions and better hone their path is something from which I get a lot of motivation and drive.

WCA: Why is WCA important to you?

Samantha: Not many groups or communities simultaneously support you at your weakest points and expect you to deliver. It’s the most wonderful combination. It’s not networking – it’s your own little army of support. That’s what makes it sustainable.

WCA is comprised of truly smart and driven women who have been where you are, are going where you need to go, and are happy to share the map. But they’ll expect your best.