Maryam Simpson grew up in Edison, New Jersey, in a home shaped by both logic and storytelling. Her father was a civil engineer. Her mother, a high school English teacher originally from Iran, encouraged curiosity and creativity. As a kid, Maryam made homemade magazines and experimented with digital design on the family computer. She liked figuring out what made people pay attention.
At Rutgers University, she studied marketing and communications. An internship at a small agency in Princeton gave her a first look at real campaigns. She saw how small changes in messaging could shift results. That idea stuck.
She started her career in Newark as a marketing assistant. The work was detailed and fast. Email campaigns. Social media. Data reports. She paid attention to what worked and what didn’t. Soon, she moved into a larger role at a Jersey City agency, where she helped lead campaigns across healthcare and retail. One project increased patient engagement by 43 percent. Another tripled product sales.
Later, in a strategy role at a sustainability brand in Hoboken, she focused on aligning messaging with values. She learned that numbers matter, but meaning matters more.
Outside of work, she mentors young professionals and volunteers with Girls Who Code. She shares practical advice. Start before you feel ready. Track your results. Speak up when you have proof.
Maryam built her career step by step. Not by waiting. By testing, learning, and moving forward.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
I start with data. I check campaign performance before I check email. I look for drops, spikes, anything unusual. That tells me where to focus. My day usually includes a mix of strategy calls, reviewing content, and working with product teams. I block two hours for deep work. No meetings. That’s when I think. I also write things down constantly. If it’s not written, it gets lost.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I test them small. Early in my career, I learned that big ideas fail quietly if you don’t test them. For example, in a skincare campaign, we shifted from one big influencer to several smaller ones after testing engagement rates. That small test turned into a full strategy and tripled sales.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Community-driven marketing. People trust people more than brands. I see more value in smaller, engaged audiences than massive reach.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Tracking results weekly. Not monthly. Weekly keeps things real.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Apply before you feel ready. I waited too long early on.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
Most campaigns have too much content. Cutting things often improves performance.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Document your wins. Numbers matter when you’re asking for opportunities.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I step away from screens. I take photos. It resets how I see things
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Speaking up with data. In one meeting, I showed that users weren’t scrolling past the first paragraph. I suggested cutting the copy. It worked. That moment changed how people saw me.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I once led a campaign that looked great but underperformed. We focused too much on visuals and not enough on audience insight. I went back to the data. The next campaign performed better because it was grounded in real behavior.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
A platform where early-career marketers can test campaigns with small budgets and get real feedback. Like a sandbox for ideas.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Notion. I use it to track campaigns, ideas, and results in one place.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
I revisit Made to Stick. It breaks down why ideas work. I use those principles often.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
Abstract: The Art of Design. It shows how creative people think through problems.
Key learnings
- Apply before feeling fully ready; growth happens through exposure, not preparation alone.
- Small tests reduce risk and often lead to larger, successful strategies.
- Data should guide decisions, but storytelling is what drives real engagement.
- Tracking measurable results regularly strengthens both confidence and career opportunities.
- Creative habits outside of work can sharpen observation and improve professional performance.