1. Do you have any nicknames?
The most prominent one is ‘Hannah Banana’ from family. My fellow Zillenials also called me ‘Hannah Montana’ on occasion growing up. 

2. What is the first thing you do when you wake up?
I always say “good morning” to my dog, Gus. My alarm is set about 10 minutes before I actually need to start getting ready just so we can have snuggle time. 

3. What’s your favorite part about working as a content strategist?
Having a creative outlet in my life is a necessity, and content strategy gives me the means to do so. There’s also a wide variety of tasks that come with content strategy; I can work on something new every day. 

4. How did you get started in this industry?
Another Pepper and I worked in the same office while I was a government employee; I got a sneak peek of what life was like working in the marketing and branding world. I always thought the work she was doing was so cool. 

5. What are your favorite tools of the trade?
This might be a total faux pas to our graphic designers, but I love Canva. It’s easy to pick up if you don’t have the traditional Adobe Creative Suite training and it’s completely free. I’ve been using it to quickly design and print most of my wedding materials for a fair price. 

6. Do you have a set process when starting a new project?
My first step is always asking what the due date is, making a note of it on my personal calendar, and then planning a completion timeline. (This is a habit I picked up when I was still in grad school and working full-time. It helps me prioritize and manage my time well.) After that, I let the right-brain take over and do some creative brainstorming. 

7. Rapid-Fire Round:

Caffeine or no? Yes, in small amounts. Too much and I find myself working too far ahead on my to-do list. 

Sweet or savory? Sweet is my jam. I could eat at Cold Stone once a week.

Favorite TV series or movie? How I Met Your Mother is my comfort show. Sometimes, I just play it when I’m alone and need background noise. Fun Fact: My fiancé, Brian, and I recently got to meet the lead actor, Josh Radnor, in Annapolis. 

Favorite place to travel? Brian and I love the 14-hour road trip down I-95 S to Clearwater, FL. Not only do we get to stop at Buc-ee’s on the way, but Clearwater is also on the western side of the state, so we get to see a great beach sunset.  

Hobbies? My only hobby right now is wedding planning, but I do enjoy spending my free weekends taking a walk on the B&A trail with a fun drink from The Coffee Trailer in Severna Park. 

8. Okay, admission time… what do you think is completely overdone in PowerPoint?
The most common mistake is probably focusing too much on content and not enough on context. It’s easy to get distracted and incorporate cool charts and graphics for a presentation, but context is what makes people truly understand the topic. Finding a balance between both is what makes a great presentation.

Honorary mention: cheesy transitions.

Thanks for meeting Hannah. Stay tuned for next month’s interview with another one of our Peppers.