Today we’d like to introduce you to Tessa Hudzietz.
Hi Tessa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story truly begins almost five years ago, at a pivotal moment in college. I desperately needed an internship to graduate, and as a marketing student with no prior experience, I knew this wasn’t just about checking a box. I was hungry for real-world learning, eager to dive into the marketing field, and determined to do more than just fetch coffee.
So, I reached out to a friend in marketing, hoping she might have a spot for me. While she couldn’t take me on directly, she made a connection that would change everything: Rachel Drody, owner of Harper Grayson Communications. In January 2021, I started my virtual internship with Rachel, and from that very first week, I knew I had stumbled upon something special. Rachel was an absolute powerhouse of knowledge, and I was instantly hooked, ready to soak up every lesson she offered. She poured into me, prepping me not just for the internship, but for any job interview that came my way.
About three months in, I finally got to meet Rachel in person, and I worked up the courage to ask the big question: “Does my internship have to end? Can I keep working for you?” She was a solo entrepreneur then, perfectly content as a one-woman show, so my question definitely caught her off guard! But to my delight, she said yes. From that moment on, we shifted gears, and the focus became building me into a social media powerhouse.
I went into it with no specific skills, just raw talent and an insatiable desire to learn. We started with copywriting, and within weeks, I was starting to dabble in graphics. By summer, I was learning Photoshop, and incredibly, by the end of that summer, I had my first employee under me! By winter, I was leading a small team, managing them as a team lead.
Honestly, it’s been a whirlwind of continuous growth ever since. I’ve gone from being an intern to the Director of the entire Social Media Department. I now manage clients, lead our incredible teams, and oversee vendors, pretty much everything that touches this department. I am eternally grateful to Rachel for taking a chance on me. I knew, deep down, that to build a career beyond retail and food service, I needed someone to see my potential. Rachel did, and I held on with both hands, ready to learn everything she was willing to teach. It’s been an incredible journey, and I can’t wait to see what’s next!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, the road has been anything but smooth, and frankly, that is where the most profound growth has occurred. As someone who thrives on process and structure, stepping into a role where I was essentially building a department from the ground up presented a unique set of challenges. It has been a journey of constant trial and error, uncovering roadblocks I never anticipated. While Rachel was always there as an invaluable mentor, guiding me and offering support where needed, there was also an essential element of figuring things out myself. This department was something I was creating for the company, so a sense of autonomy and problem-solving was crucial.
One of the biggest hurdles was the dual challenge of learning to be a social media manager mastering the technical skills of the role while simultaneously learning to be a leader and manage a team. These were two distinct worlds colliding, forcing me to quickly hone my leadership, time management, and client management skills on the fly.
Beyond the professional development, there were deeply personal struggles that impacted everything. A significant loss of someone very close to both Rachel and me rocked our foundation, forcing us to navigate grief while still running a business. This was compounded by my own pregnancy, adding another layer of uncertainty and a future to envision. There were days my role shifted from content creation to simply assisting Rachel, relying heavily on my team’s incredible support. Other times, I had to step back entirely to focus on family. It is an ever-evolving balance that demands constant adaptation.
Most recently, the challenge has been transitioning fully into the Director role, where content creation is now primarily handled by my team. This shift left me with an unexpected void, a feeling of “nothing to do and everything to do” all at once. I had all the systems for content creation well-established; those were done, and I did not have a need for them anymore. Instead, all the new tasks, responsibilities, and systems required for my director-level work were jumbled and chaotic in my head, not yet concrete or organized. I am actively working to define what my director-level role entails, what my dashboards and processes should look like, and how to systematize these new responsibilities. It is about tackling it piece by piece, identifying problems, brainstorming solutions, and then figuring out how to integrate those improvements to create even better, more efficient systems.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At Harper Grayson Communications, we’re all about empowering businesses to thrive in the digital landscape. We’re a high-end marketing agency dedicated to helping companies level up their online presence. Within my department, we specialize in social media, serving as your one-stop shop for all your needs.
Our philosophy is simple, and it’s something I love to share: “We take your spare key, not your master key, to your marketing.” This means we never seek to own your pages, accounts, or website. Instead, we’re here to support and amplify your marketing efforts, ensuring you always retain control.
Strategy is the foundation of everything we do. We deeply immerse ourselves in understanding who you are, who you’re aiming to attract, and who you need to connect with. This ensures the content we create is purposeful and impactful, not just something thrown against a wall hoping it sticks. We primarily focus on service-based clients and industries, an area where we truly excel. Our notable clients include law firms, health insurance agents and brokers, medical and wellness fields, and even interior design.
We craft tailored content that matches your unique goals, whether it is compelling graphics, engaging photos, dynamic videos, insightful carousels, or captivating stories. You name it, we do it.
What Sets Us Apart
I am most proud of our unwavering commitment to honesty and transparency. This principle is deeply embedded in our company’s origins. We heard stories of businesses paying significant amounts to other marketing companies only to receive nothing in return. That’s simply not how we operate. With Harper Grayson Communications, you are always in control and always informed. You can easily reach our team, which is entirely US-based. You’ll work with real people who genuinely want to see you succeed, not a third party.
What truly sets us apart is the consistently improving quality of our work. We constantly strive to elevate our standards. When you compare the content we create with that of other agencies, you’ll see that our quality is simply next level; it is high-end. We recently brought on a video team whose expertise extends to producing TV shows and movies. Their incredible talent is now an integral part of our offerings, providing our clients with truly exceptional visual content that stands out in the market.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Finding a mentor and building a strong network has been absolutely crucial to my journey, and interestingly, my experience combines both. My initial connection with my mentor, Rachel, was technically through networking. When I needed an internship, I reached out to a friend in marketing who, while unable to take me on, knew Rachel through her own networking efforts. That’s how I found my incredible mentor. So, first, leverage your existing network; you never know who your connections know.
Secondly, I started joining networking groups shortly after becoming a full-time employee with Harper Grayson Communications. For a few years, I was primarily an attendee, absorbing everything. But just last year, I took a leap and started leading my own women-only networking group.
My biggest piece of advice, and it’s a cliché for a reason, is just do it. My first networking events were terrifying. I tried to blend into the wall, which didn’t work when it was my turn to stand up and speak about my business. There was one particular moment when I transferred to a group with incredibly notable and seasoned business owners. Walking into that room, I felt like a tiny fish in a vast ocean. I was absolutely terrified, but I also knew these were women I desperately wanted to learn from. To do that, I had to give it my all. My heart raced, as it always did, but I stood up and delivered the best “commercial” I could. Later, Rachel heard back from some of those women, and they couldn’t even tell I was nervous.
We often overanalyze ourselves, forgetting that even when you’re speaking, it’s not always about you. Many people in the room might not even be paying attention. Here’s a trick that helped me early on: find a spot about a foot above everyone’s heads. It looks like you’re making eye contact, but you’re not. Scan that space across the room, and you’ll appear more engaged, involved, and confident.
Also, have a clear idea of what you’re going to say. Don’t just ramble. If you have a goal for your message, it will be more impactful. Remember, when others are waiting their turn to speak, they’re often rehearsing in their own heads, not fully listening to you.
Finally, and this is key: if you mess up, make it funny! People love to laugh. If I’m walking into a room full of strangers and feeling nervous, I’ll often start with a quick joke or something a little shocking. My marketing brain comes out here, but getting the room laughing helps you smile, chuckle, and boosts your confidence. It makes you feel less nervous, helps people remember you, and creates an immediate connection. Do that, and you’re golden.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.allofthemarketing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allofthemarketing
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allofthemarketing
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/harper-grayson
