Today’s Notable Young Professional is Leah Perry, whose work in digital communications for Vancouver’s Cactus Club Cafe ensures guests have an incredible experience with the brand while also driving sales. What was the inspiration for her career route? Find out in today’s profile…
Elevator Pitch: Describe your job in a nutshell.
I work in digital communications for Cactus Club Cafe, a restaurant leader in casual fine dining. I’m responsible for outlining digital and social strategies and making sure our online experience is one that benefits our guests while also driving our sales.
Why did you start working at your company? What was the inspiration for this career route?
I’ve grown up working in restaurants, spending many years in a variety of roles at local favourites; everything from a server and office manager to a marketing manager and now in digital communications. It’s a natural fit for me.
Choosing to work in digital communications for Cactus Club was an easy one. I was lucky enough to have had Cactus Club as a client when I was at a digital agency a few years ago, and got some great insight into how the Cactus team operated and where the business was heading. When the opportunity to work in marketing at Cactus Club came available, I knew where I had to be.
What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis? The most challenging part?
Easy – the best part is definitely the people. I get to work with forward-thinking, passionate, smart, positive people every single day. Although we each have our specialities and are in our respective departments, we operate as a collective group that firmly believes more heads are better than one, always.
I think for anybody in marketing, staying relevant and coming up with ways to capture your market is always a challenge; but that’s also the fun part!
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I see myself in an elevated marketing role at Cactus Club that allows me to continue to grow and be creative.
What does success look like to you?
Success to me is when you do what you love and love what you do. It’s cliché, but it’s true.
What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
Last year I was nominated for Marketing Magazine’s Top 30 Under 30. I didn’t make the final top 30 list (that would have been something!) but the nomination itself was a big moment for me – someone believed in me and my work, and that’s all I could ever ask for.
Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Never let anyone tell you that you can’t – you can. Work hard, ask for feedback, never stop learning, take time to appreciate every success (even if it may seem small at the time) and be positive – positivity and determination can attract opportunities more than you think.
Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
Through Cactus Club we support the Make a Wish Foundation, an organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. For the month of April, $1 from every dessert sold at Cactus Club goes to the Make a Wish Foundation to help make a child’s wish come true.
Personally, I support the food bank and am a committee member for the Noah Yelizarov Memorial Hockey Tourney in memory of a friend that left us too soon. The tournament is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and is an annual one-day event that raises $30,000 to support Canuck Place and the BC Children’s Hospital.
What to you is notable?
To be notable is to inspire.
Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or Other?
iPhone.
#LYNL | (Live Your Notable Life)
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