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What experiences and influences shape standout marketing leaders? Abby Eddy, Director of Brand Management at Purdue University, joins us to peel back the curtain on her winding path to directing high-profile brand strategy initiatives.‍ From entrepreneurial childhoods to lateral career stepping stones, we overturn assumptions about the trajectory toward marketing leadership. We unpack with Abby how early talents were nurtured by those around her, planting seeds that blossomed over time.‍ We go back to Abby’s Girl Scout cookie sales outreach and the sway observing family businesses firsthand. Her stories spotlights how such early exposure cultivated natural competencies around positioning brands and engaging consumers.‍ Abby also discusses the impact of internships cementing marketing fundamentals beyond textbook concepts. We examine her stint as an orchestra librarian, revealing transferable strengths built in unconventional roles en route to marketing direction.‍ Throughout our discussion, Abby credits certain mentors with recognizing abilities that outgrew opportunities. Their encouragement to embrace next-level responsibilities enabled pivotal stepping stones demonstrating capabilities beyond her current responsibilities.