Meet Mallory Stein

Happy Monday! Today, please meet one of our Pathlabbers, Mallory Stein.?

Mallory runs brand design for our marketing team, and we recently caught up with her to learn more about what makes Mallory, well, Mallory. Here is how it went:??

What was your original career prospect when growing up? What are you doing now at Pathlabs?

Growing up I wanted to be an art teacher or something involving art and creativity. In college, I studied graphic design and marketing. My first few positions out of college were as a graphic designer, mainly at tech startups. I enjoy creating designs and brands from scratch and watching them grow and evolve. At Pathlabs, I run the branding design for the marketing team. It has been fun helping the brand evolve, and I look forward to where we can take it!??????

What are some things that you are obsessed with??

I have two kids, a girl who is five and a boy who is three. I am obsessed with them, and love to spend my time getting to know them for the unique people they are. I love doing things with them - baking, crafting, staying in, and going on adventures.

I also love hot yoga. I am obsessed because it is challenging and a good workout for my body, mind, and soul. It helps me feel balanced and present so I can improve in different areas of my life. I always leave there feeling better than when I go in!

What career expectations do you struggle with?

It is always a challenge to work through how to balance a career and family appropriately. For me, finding a company that understands and respects the importance of balance and supports employees who find fulfillment in other areas of their life outside of work is imperative. It is also on the employee to learn how to create that balance. It is often what leads to all-around better performance.

Was there anything you ever did that made you be like, “damn, I am frickin awesome”?

My first job out of college was at a tech startup. We had a hard deadline of 3 months from my start date to launch a new logo, brand, and website at a big conference we were attending. We also needed to design and print a large-scale booth setup, business cards, collateral, etc. As a new employee and the only designer, I had no idea what crazy amount of work would go into this! After hitting that deadline, I felt like a designer who could do anything!?

Do you have any side hustles or projects you work on??

I have an Etsy shop! I have lived around Baltimore, Maryland, my whole life and am kind of obsessed with the city. I started designing “skylines” of Baltimore with a focus on the buildings of businesses that put the “charm” in “charm city.” I have sold the prints on Etsy and in shops around the city. The shop has also opened up other opportunities for me - designing interior spaces for Doctor's offices downtown and other local company logos.??

Why do you work? Period.

I work because I enjoy what I do. I find it very fulfilling and challenging. More than a designer, I see myself as a marketer and a visual problem solver. There is often a message that needs to be conveyed, an audience that needs to be reached, and a specific way to do it visually, and it is my job to figure out how to do that.?

Why did you choose to work at Pathlabs??

I like to work for companies that are innovators in the space, with a great vision and culture, and happy employees who feel balanced and heard. I also look for companies where there is an opportunity for me to make an impact in strengthening the brand. Pathlabs is an excellent place for all of these reasons.?

What are the biggest mistakes people make when forming an impression of you??

I am quiet. They are not wrong. But from a business standpoint, it is not always second nature to come up with great ideas on the spot. It takes me a little time to process my thoughts and opinions to generate good ideas and concepts, and it usually involves background work, reviewing the brand and audience needs, and doing some sketching.

What is your favorite marketing element, branch, or concept??

I love design and seeing how all components of marketing come together. For instance, design and copywriting must work together to create a successful ad or landing page, and designs should be interwoven into lead gen and follow-up, and all touchpoints from sales to product, to customer success to create a fully seamless brand experience for customers from start to finish.?

If you didn’t have to work but needed the money, what would you do??

I know nothing about running a business, but it would be super cool to own a coffee shop that also sold smoothies, acai bowls, and sweets like cookies and ice cream - in a beach town. My daughter wants to be a chef when she grows up, and my son, who loves to make ice cream would help with the food and flavors.

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Mallory continues to be one of the many exemplary employees at Pathlabs, pushing the marketing wheel forward and maintaining a brand that encapsulates our goals of owning it, mastering our craft, putting people first, and being unforgettable.?

Thanks for all you do, Mallory.

View Mallory’s design work on our Pathlabs website, and visit her Etsy shop.