Meet Vanessa Contreras: Social Media & Digital Marketing Manager

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vanessa Contreras and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vanessa, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I used to be my job, and by that, I mean I used to think of nothing else other than my career and responsibilities. I learned that while that may get me places, it also drains my energy and spirit. Over the last couple of months, I’ve learned to disconnect when I need to recharge, and I’ve learned to say no when my plate is full. Working in social media marketing, it can be hard to go offline when your phone IS your job, but finding that time to turn it off and disconnect is essential to keeping your creative spark alive and not suffering from burnout. 

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Social media is never easy, as it’s constantly changing and evolving, but that’s the exciting part! There’s always new features to learn and new ways to connect. I’ve gotten to where I am today, I feel, because I find ways to connect brands with their audience in creative ways. You don’t have to be on every channel, you just have to be on the right channels, putting out the right content. I’m proud to have worked on some amazing projects, including an award winning campaign for HistoryMiami Museum’s exhibition, Queer Miami: A History of LGBTQ Communities. Through that campaign, we passed the mic to some pioneers in the LGBTQIA+ community, giving them a platform to share their stories and inspire others. We created a space for the community to share their stories with the world, through the hashtag #QueerMiamiStories. The biggest lesson I’ve learned in my career is that there is always more to learn. You don’t know it all, and that’s ok.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Miami has so many amazing local spots! I would definitely take them around the museums, hitting up HistoryMiami (of course!) and Vizcaya, which is always one of my favorite places to visit. You can’t visit Miami without also visiting Wynwood Arts District to explore all of the murals created by talented local artists. Miami has so many flavors from different countries, it’s hard to choose only a few to highlight. One of my choices would definitely be Redfish by Chef Adrienne, the food there is absolutely delicious. In my home city of Hialeah, La Fresa Francesa is a unique blend of French and Cuban cuisine that I recommend to anyone I can.  Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to give a shoutout to my mother. During some dark times in my life, she was always beside me to hold me and remind me to keep my head up. She has been by my side throughout my entire career, giving me advice and helping me along those rocky roads that have gotten me to where I am today. I owe her everything.

Website: vanessamcon.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/vanessamcon
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessamcon/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/vanessamcon