Knotch connected with Katie Garcia, Senior Content Specialist at Ally, for our "Own Your Voice" series to hear her story, and to learn what drives Katie in her career.

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Where did your story begin?

In my childhood room, turning the pages of the latest paperback until I fell asleep or my parents caught me. Goosebumps, Babysitters Club, and The Saddle Club series were just a few on my bookshelf.  

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What was a pivotal life moment where your story changed?

In the mid-00s, when technology began to change the way we tell and consume stories. Storytelling was no longer about landing a deal with a publishing company. It was becoming more immediate and accessible. People of all backgrounds could craft and tell their stories and share it to a global audience via the “World Wide Web!” And audiences could react in real-time instead of passively viewing TV or reading print. 

Who made the biggest impact on your story?

Influence comes in many forms and shapes, but leaders like Amelia Earhart, Ansel Adams, Mary Oliver, Greta Thunberg, and Alicia Keys are just a few. Most often, it’s the simplest moments – a conversation with a stranger at the top of a mountain peak – that will strike up a new idea for me.   

What’s an unpopular opinion you have about content?

In the current times of machine learning and data-informed content creation, I’m still a firm believer that content is personal. It takes passion and wit to create compelling content. Even the most technical topics need attention to reduce the burden on the content consumer.  ‍

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If you could define your story using one sentence, what would that sentence be?

I find this quote from author Claire Cook fitting for quarantine as well as a good mindset for content strategy & creation: “If plan A doesn't work, the alphabet has 25 more letters - 204 if you're in Japan.”