What Happened After Graduation?

Episode 243: From Intern to Content Leader - Zach Dampier on Growth, Grit, and Working with Family Episode Description

What does it take to go from intern to indispensable? In this episode, Smart Marketer CEO Molly Pittman interviews Content Coordinator Zach Dampier; her cousin and long-time teammate about his inspiring journey from college intern to running all of Smart Marketer's organic content.

Zach shares what he's learned along the way about content strategy, working in customer support, building a career with no roadmap, and navigating family dynamics inside a fast-paced business.

"A marketing degree is nice, but it's definitely not needed for this industry." - Zach Dampier

Whether you're building a team or building your own career, this episode is full of honest insights, practical advice, and a refreshing look at what it means to grow with a company over time.

You Will Learn:

• How to spot and nurture long-term team members with high potential

• Why starting in customer support is the smartest entry point into any business

• How Zach transitioned from intern to leader without formal job titles

• The pros (and real talk) about working with family

• Why managing content across multiple platforms is about more than just volume

• A fresh take on hiring: when to invest in experience vs. potential

Links & Resources:

• Smart Marketer – smartmarketer.com

• Molly Pittman – mollypittman.com

• Instagram – @smartmarketer

• Instagram – @mollypittmandigital

• Fields of Freedom Dog Rescue – fofdogrescue.com

• Omnisend – smartmarketer.com/omnisend (Use coupon code SMART for 50% off your first 3 months)

Timestamps (Chapters):

00:00 – Intro from Anthony + Why This Episode Matters 02:04 – Meet Zach: From Intern to Key Team Member 06:00 – How a High School Elective Sparked a Marketing Career 08:35 – Zach's Early Intern Tasks: Ads, Reports & Client Research 11:33 – Why Starting in Support Built Zach's Foundation 17:42 – Transitioning to Content & Social Media Strategy 21:40 – The Power of Hiring for Potential, Not Just Experience 24:32 – Working with Family: Real Talk & Lessons Learned 28:52 – What It's Like to Work with Your Spouse 31:56 – Reflecting on Smart Marketer's Growth (2019–2025) 34:58 – What's Next: Scaling YouTube and Mentoring Interns 36:55 – Decoding Gen Z Slang for the Workplace 38:10 – Zach's Final Thoughts & Smart Marketer Live Shout-Out

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