My story began with a deep love of words from the moment I could read. As I got into the workforce, I was always the first to volunteer for writing projects, and since I started out in nonprofits, they were happy to let me wear as many hats as I was willing to. The more I wrote, the more I loved it, and the easier it was to turn that into my full-time role.
Having my daughter in 2009 was definitely a pivotal life moment on all fronts. It gave me the chance to really think about my priorities, consider what I needed out of a job, and start down the right path to getting there. Before she was born, I questioned my worth as a writer and wondered if marketing was right for me. Once I had her, it was a lot easier to realize I was on the right career path and move ahead confidently.
Second only to my daughter, my husband has made the biggest impact on my personal and professional lives, as my constant cheering section and support system. I’ve also been fortunate enough to have some truly incredible bosses in my career who’ve taught me a lot. Not just being a better writer and leader but also about how to maintain the right work/life balance and advocate for myself at work.
People are starting to come around to this one, but there’s no difference between B2B and B2C writing. You’re still just talking to a person and hoping they’ll take the action you’re driving them toward. Better B2B writing happens when you remember that. In other words, people-first.
Be a better listener; great ideas and new perspectives can come from unexpected places.
Heather Hurd is the Editorial Director at FIS Global and a content marketing writer with 12+ years of experience in B2B and B2C marketing. She has worked in nonprofit and corporate environments, including both internal and external agency work. Prior to taking on the Editorial Director role at FIS, where she manages a team of fin-tech writers and project managers, Heather managed content teams focused on the IT space and wrote for nonprofit and charity organizations. She is passionate about being a part of inclusion and diversity initiatives and is proud to be part of advancing that work with the FIS I&D team. In her free time, Heather likes to spend time with her husband and daughter, try to make a dent in her to-be-read pile, and watch superhero movies.
