From Curiosity to Career—My Journey into Digital Marketing | Francisco Montañez
Growing up, I wanted to be a cop and then an architect—until I was told that I needed to be great at math, which derailed that journey. How things work and why they work has always interested me. The thought of how a machine operates and whether it can work better is an ever-growing curiosity. I graduated high school without a clear idea of what I wanted to do. College followed the traditional path, but my heart wasn’t in it, unfortunately.
Marketing, as I understood it, meant that you needed to be creative and have ideas pouring out of your eyes. A movie piqued my interest in marketing, and my first “marketing” job was as a product tester in the mall—“Would you like to take a survey?”—but it wasn’t the marketing I had envisioned. From there I worked in banking, security, and cold calling, which eventually led me to digital marketing, and I was hooked! Apparently, Digital Marketing is the machine I’d been waiting to tinker with.
That journey started in 2016 and continues to bring new challenges to the table. I’m very excited to be part of the great minds behind 1909. I consider myself an avid learner and firmly believe that clients play an essential role in what I learn and how I learn. How can I bridge the gap between what I know and what clients know? What can I take from the 1909 team to drive progress forward? 1909 DIGITAL brings a new perspective to my digital marketing journey—be yourself, be great, learn with us, and help our clients grow. Work should be as fun as it is challenging. It should allow for innovation, understanding, and compassion without sacrificing sanity.
Fun Facts About Francisco
- Immigrant: I was brought here at a young age, I’m a naturalized citizen, and I’m proud to be an American with Mexican roots. This part of “who I am” has given me a unique perspective on life. English is also my second language.
- Family: I’m married to my beautiful wife Raquel, and we have three beautiful children.
- I Love Food: I enjoy old dishes, new dishes, and spicy food! My favorite meals are “Albondigas” and wings.
- Travel: We love the beach and hope to one day live close enough where shoes become optional.
- Personality: I’m not a big talker but tend to be a better listener. I often take time to gather my thoughts before providing feedback. I talk with my hands, dialogue conversations, and often find examples to explain things that words can’t explain.
- Goals: I want to become an integral part of a team that leads, implements, ideates, and collaborates. I want to do more than I did yesterday and be part of change and innovation.
- Hobbies: I love sports and spending time with family and friends. I’ve recently gotten more into reading and hope to grow my book collection.
- Go-To’s: Hats, sneakers, craft beer, and a little Mezcal.
As someone who believes that a client’s perspective helps shape their strategy, I think it’s important to take something from every situation—whether it’s good, okay, or not so great to shape who you are and who you want to become.
