“When my A2L Program came to an end, I started applying to more roles at Aramark. I knew that in my mind I would love to be somewhere at corporate and wanted to end up in sports.”
With timing on her side, Katie landed on the Design and Development team in Sports & Entertainment as a Project Manager promptly after the end of her A2L Program. She wrote newsletters, strategized menu boards, developed social media content and strategy, among other traditional marketing tasks. From there, she was promoted to a Marketing Manager role.
“Through COVID-19, I was able to transition into larger projects, really focusing on technology and innovation. I didn’t know it before, but I’ve come to realize that’s my passion in this industry.”
Now as a Senior Marketing Manager on the Design and Development Team, Katie finds her experiences from the S2L and A2L Programs useful in her day-to-day work.
“It’s so nice to have the background – working a bit on the sales side, seeing P&Ls, meeting people, and working on marketing materials here and there. Doing that in my S2L translated to my A2L, where sometimes I even had to use tools to get products off shelves in the warehouse, learning the operations side of the business. I can still turn that side of my brain on to think about some of the challenges we’re up against these days when we’re looking at introducing new products and experiences. I was never in marketing roles, but I made them one, making flyers and marketing tools to help sell and push products. I was able to find my own path, which has helped now in the Sports & Entertainment business because we all have to be super flexible.”
Katie appreciates the support she’s had from leaders throughout her time at Aramark who have encouraged her to take risks and believe in herself. She points to the empowerment of women in the industry that has especially led her to love her job.
“Our leadership places a lot of focus on gender representation, because it’s so important to us and not always the case that women are well-represented in the industry. Most of my team is women, but no matter if you’re a man or woman in our world, everybody is supportive of your goals and ambitions. Every single person I’ve come across has had belief in me and let me pave my own way.”
Alicia Woznicki, Vice President, Design and Development, of our Sports & Entertainment line of business, has been able to watch Katie grow first-hand as her manager.
“Watching Katie grow and develop as been a highlight of my time at Aramark. She is so open to learning new things and embracing challenges. That willingness and approach to her career has enabled her to advance on the Sports and Entertainment team and become a true industry expert. She is mature beyond her years and has a great future ahead of her.”
Throughout her time at Aramark, Katie has learned that staying flexible, asking questions, and taking leaps of faith has helped her as she’s progressed in her career. As an intern in Healthcare, she made the most of every opportunity, and now as a Senior Marketing Manager in Sports & Entertainment, she’s realized that by taking her first initial risk in joining Aramark, she has landed her dream job.
Her advice to college students looking for their next opportunity? Take the job, even if it’s not exactly what you planned.
“Don’t turn something down just because it isn’t exactly what you are looking for. All the experiences you’ll gain will help you learn and round you out even more. Take the job to get your foot in the door. Your growth will be what you make of it. I landed right where I wanted to be because I tried something a little bit different.”
To learn more about why Katie returned to Aramark and her favorite memories, check out the Q&A!
