Erica Fortgang

I didn't take the typical "I am an Advertising grad, please hire me in a creative agency" route immediately out of college. I didn't bring my awkward shaped artist portfolio with me to interviews hoping for a chance at the big dream.

The truth is, I wasn't sure that level of competition was right for me - so instead I dabbled in early education, Swedish meatballs, floral design, and account management in a tech. startup. Wild, right? But, having different experiences has given me so many useful and unexpected skills which have all shaped me to be who I am right now; somebody who cares deeply about giving back, and somebody who has enormous passion and enthusiasm for being certain that others get what matters most to them.

What I didn't realize until after I lived in three different states in the span of three years, traveled to the poorest corners of Africa, and had a significant hand in the launch of an alien mobile performance product, was that I did have great ideas, not about campaigns or slogans, but big life-changing visions.

I've also realized that I cannot change the world by myself.

Yet, I am trained to think outside the box. I see existing problems and solve them creatively. I hope to merge good intentions with social space and have an even greater outcome.