🔥 Pivot Points: In Community #112

Your weekly spark centering entrepreneurial leaders, creators, and culture-makers from the rising majority

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🔥 And now, for your weekly spark.

What if your “wrong” moves aren’t mistakes at all — but the very steps that turn out right? Whether you’re leading a brand or building a company, real success rarely follows a straight line. 🚀

Last week, we talked about discernment. If discernment is learning to hear yourself clearly, this week is about acting on what you hear — even when the path still looks messy.

In my latest In Community podcast episode, founders, creators, and marketing leaders shared how they ended up exactly where they were meant to be — but only after pivots, setbacks, and moments of being seen by the right person at the right time. From early-stage startups to global brand campaigns, these stories show that resilience, adaptability, and community often matter more than having a perfect plan.

The Pivot Principle

Here’s the mindset that unites high-performing marketers and entrepreneurs alike:

Your “wrong” campaign, job, or launch isn’t wasted. Your sideways move isn’t failure. Your pause isn’t a setback.

It’s a pivot. Pivots turn missteps into leverage and uncertainty into opportunity.

  • Tyler Chou had to reinvent her career during the WGA/SAG strikes — now she’s shaping the future of the creator economy.

  • Maryam Banikarim leveraged early leadership roles to co-found NYCNext.

  • Jessica Serrano launched Taco Bell’s Diablo Sauce with no budget, turning constraints into creative advantage.

  • Zena Arnold started at a makeup counter — that foundation led her to CMO at Sephora.

Whether it’s a campaign that flopped or a startup idea that didn’t land, each “wrong” move is training for your next win.

💬 A Quick Ask (Because Community Is Reciprocal)
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📌 The S.P.A.R.K. Framework

Here’s how to turn pivots into traction

Resilience is the muscle, community is the compass.

S — See what’s possible 
Spot unmet audience needs, overlooked markets, or adjacent opportunities.

P — Pivot intentionally 
Shift strategy, messaging, or business model before doubling down on what isn’t working.

A — Advocate for yourself and your work 
Mentors, sponsors, and advocates accelerate both brand and career growth.

R — Reflect and recalibrate 
Every campaign, launch, or role teaches lessons that compound over time.

K — Keep your community close 
Customers, peers, and allies who see your value early amplify your impact faster than any plan alone.

Straight lines are a myth. Campaigns stumble. Startups pivot. Plans derail.

The magic? Leaning into it. That “wrong” move, that setback — it can spark something no one expected.

Growth favors the resilient, the discerning, and the bold enough to be seen at the right moment.

✅ Now Hiring

What you asked for, delivered.

Is someone you know considering what’s next for them? Here are a few roles with people hiring across the network. I’ll be adding roles here every week, so stay tuned and make sure to spread the word.

ICYMI last week:

💥 Managing Director, Partnerships Marketing — NASCAR (among other roles)

💥 Sr Director, Paid Social — Factor (several other roles too)

💥 Sr Brand Strategist — MrBeast (several other roles too)

💥 Sr Manager, Influencer & Content Marketing — Pfizer (several other roles too)

💥 Content Strategy Lead — Bose (several other roles too)

And before you go, consider who else might value this newsletter and what’s coming up on YouTube. Make sure to fwd this newsletter onward to them too. They can subscribe here for more directly in their inbox. 🔁 

In community,

Fahad