Get to Know the Wunders: Meet Marissa, Our Glue That Holds It All Together

On the forefront, we’ve got Marissa Norton. And don’t be fooled, they’ve got it all under control.

They’re the marketing manager for Third Wunder, but what you didn’t know is that they’re also an active volunteer for the Montreal community, a thoughtful friend, part-time student and thrifter extraordinaire.

Need I say more? We’ll let this intimate Q&A speak for itself.

Dive into this interview with Mari to learn more about time management skills, juggling side hustles and shifting career paths while staying true to you.

1. What’s your Wunder role?

I started working for Third Wunder back in 2017 as a marketing intern and now as the Marketing Project Manager at the firm. I lead our marketing, design and copy teams on multiple projects, produce content on the regular, and build strategies for our clients.

2. How has your career path led to the digital marketing sphere?

I studied Communications at Concordia and prior to that, Cinema at Dawson College. I originally went into the media field wanting to become a film producer (experimental film), but fell in love with media & communications theory.

One thing led to another, and I was freelancing, designing websites and branding and running social accounts. And I found myself applying to Third Wunder when I finished University.

I’m now developing my skills in management, public relations and business development and enjoying the journey so far! I still have a passion for film and alternative media, though.

3. Fair enough. So, what compelled you to stay?

Third Wunder has been a great place for me to explore what I want to do in this industry. Mo has always allowed me to try new things, explore different roles and since day one, been asked where I see myself going.

It’s definitely a great place for career development without feeling pressured to do one role indefinitely, like you typically would at a larger agency.

4. How do you maintain project management when you have multiple projects at the same time?

ClickUp is definitely a saviour! It’s the project management tool we use in-house and not only do we love using it, our clients do too! It’s an extremely powerful tool to organize all your tasks in different ways and allows us to visualize our tasks the way we prefer—some like calendars, others prefer Kanban style.

I also make sure to allocate time for all my clients to ensure they’re taken care of properly. I’ve heard horror stories where brands were left behind while their vendor focused on bigger budget clients and it’s so sad to hear that. I value transparency and honesty with my clients and I think they appreciate that.

5. How would you describe the culture at your company? Has it evolved over the years?

If I could summarize our culture in a few words, I’d say we’re go-getters who go the extra mile. Not just for our clients, but for each other. When a team member is struggling, we support them in whatever way they need.

We’re extremely compassionate and want to help our clients achieve their goals while also connecting with them on a human level. We often hear from clients that they appreciate how down-to-earth we are and that we don’t make them feel small or insignificant–every client is valued and appreciated.

And we’re always evolving! When I joined, we were a much smaller team and now that we’re larger, I’ve seen how we’ve taken the values and embraced all the diverse backgrounds of our team to create this truly amazing group of creatives.

6. What constitutes a strong digital marketing team?

A strong digital marketing team is one that constantly collaborates and brings out the best in each of us. It’s a team that is constantly innovating and challenging the status quo to create the coolest things.

Also, it’s one that values transparency and doesn’t work in siloes or hierarchies—we’re all informed and workshop solutions together (no egos).

I think the most important thing that makes a strong digital marketing team is that we all have our areas of expertise but don’t stick to one task each—we’re all wearing different hats, while still tapping on the right resource to do the best job.

7. How important is an innovative spirit in the digital marketing sphere?

So important! If you’re stuck in the past (and in marketing, that could mean a month ago), you’re gonna be left behind. Digital marketing is constantly changing and algorithms are getting more and more sophisticated, so it’s imperative that we’re up to date on the latest trends, latest updates and ready to pivot when needed.

This also applies to us as individuals. I think it’s so important for us as people to constantly challenge ourselves, our understanding of things, our biases and innovate!

8. Say your life had a soundtrack. What would the theme song be?

Oh gosh, this is such a hard question.

The theme changes each day depending on my mood, what I need to get done and so on. So, I wouldn’t say there’s just one. BUT, if I had to choose today, it’d be Found by Tems.

9. You’d most likely get caught doing (blank) during break time.

Working remotely, I’m either doing a crossword, crocheting something that brings me joy, or sneaking in some yoga stretches.

At the office, I’m most likely browsing TikTok, sharing stupid videos with my coworkers or sneaking in some volunteer time for Vent Over Tea, a nonprofit I volunteer at as Digital Marketing Director.

10. Tell us the best perk from working at a marketing agency. Go!

I’d say freedom to play! When you’re working with one brand, one department or on one task, you know what you need to do almost everyday. With Third Wunder, I’m able to explore different approaches and skills to get our job done and it’s usually a pretty fun experience!

You also get to work with different industries, projects and you’re exposed to a whole range of people and brands. Never a dull moment.

11. Pick a fictional character or archetype that best represents you.

My hero since I was a child is Nancy Drew. Yes, I know she’s a fictional character, but the story of a scrappy detective who is always sure of themselves and never quits ‘till they’ve solved the mystery has always appealed to me. I love puzzles and cracking codes, I think that’s one of the things that I love most about marketing. If there’s ever a tricky problem our clients need solving, I’m more than likely working my ass off to figure it out for them.

Archetype wise? ‘The detective’.