Emilee Cocuzzo speaking at the new Hult AMA chapter at their inaugural event.
Deep Reflections
As I wrap up my Presidency, I wanted to briefly reflect about my journey at AMA Boston.
At the end of 2020, I moved back to Boston from DC. I was looking for a community and joined an AMA Boston virtual event with the CMO of Dunkin Donuts. After the session, I met with Meg McGrath, the President of AMA Boston at the time, and I joined the Collegiate Committee under Pat Cooper – former AMA Boston President as well. Quickly, I became the Director and then VP of Collegiate. I took immense pride connecting students with AMA members. It was one of my favorite roles thus far in my career.
Now as President of AMA Boston, I get to work with some of the smartest marketers in the area! It has been a pleasure working with some of the most interesting and creative folks in the industry. At each event, I am even more impressed and amazed by our incredible community.
At AMA Boston, I have also seen firsthand how a strong marketing community not only supports an individual’s career journey, but also their personal growth. We acknowledge that marketers face real problems, such as searching for a new job or growing their business, and as an organization, we are here to assist with it.
A Place to Learn and Grow
The Women’s Leadership panel in September 2024
Since 1934, AMA Boston has been a long-standing cornerstone in the Greater Boston marketing community. Through our events, workshops, and networking opportunities, we provide marketers educational opportunities to grow and learn from other marketers.
For the last 90 years, we have been providing core educational events for our community and have stayed on top of marketing trends as they quickly evolved in front of us. This year, we held events, such as the Women’s Leadership panel, which highlighted female executive marketing leaders and entrepreneurs in the Boston area. In addition, we held a series of webinars focused on topics, such as communication, public speaking, and middle management growth.
Beyond our educational events, AMA Boston offers access to a wealth of resources. From curated thought-leadership content in our blogs to informative podcast episodes from our 5-star rated Talking Marketing podcast (go Allen and team!), members are equipped with the tools to tackle their most pressing marketing challenges. This focus on continuous learning ensures our community remains competitive and adaptable in an ever-changing landscape.
Collaboration Over Competition
AMA Boston at the Boston Chamber of Commerce with John Joy,
Director of Business Development of the Boston Chamber of Commerce
One of the greatest strengths of AMA Boston is our core value on collaboration. While marketing can sometimes feel like a silo, especially in competitive agency or corporate environments, our chapter fosters a sense of community. Our members come from diverse backgrounds – from CMOs to students. Our core value is the collective diversity of this group.
At our networking events, it’s not uncommon to see freelancers exchanging tips with agency professionals or students learning from senior marketing leaders. These interactions often lead to partnerships, mentorships, and friendships that extend far beyond the event itself.
What I am most proud of is the genuine kindness and openness at these events. I am often told that our events are some of the most welcoming events folks have been to. To me, that means the world to me. It brings me incredible joy to know that our events are a safe space for all!
In addition, we have been very intentional with partnering with other local groups, such as Startup Weekend Boston and the Boston Chamber of Commerce. This only further solidifies our efforts to grow the business and marketing community around us.
In this way, AMA Boston acts as a bridge. Through these connections and friendships, I am lucky to have met some of my closest friends and some of my favorite people through AMA Boston. Without our partners, sponsors, volunteers, and Board members, AMA Boston could simply not function and be as successful as it is.
Driving Innovation
AMA Boston Board members at the AMA Summer Academic Conference in August 2024.
Boston has always been a hub for innovation. At AMA Boston, we are proud to contribute to this legacy for the past 90 years. By hosting discussions on emerging trends like AI, influencer marketing, and brand storytelling, we ensure that our members are at the forefront of industry advancements. More importantly, these discussions are enriched by diverse perspectives from marketers across various sectors.
For example, at the AMA Summer Academic Conference in August 2024, we held a workshop focused on technology innovation in marketing, specifically around AI. In addition, I was just invited to be on a panel with local academics at Babson College to talk about my experience in diversity in marketing and technology.
It is clear that AMA Boston continues to explore cutting-edge topics while encouraging attendees to share their own experiences. This two-way dialogue not only sparks new ideas but also positions Boston to be known as a leader in the global marketing community.
The Power of Belonging and Embracing DE&I in Times of Uncertainty
AMA Boston at the October Marketing Mingle.
Ultimately, what makes AMA Boston’s community so impactful is the sense of belonging it fosters. Marketing can be a challenging profession, filled with tight deadlines, high stakes, and constant change. Having a network of like-minded individuals who understand these challenges can make all the difference. Through AMA Boston, our members find encouragement, guidance, and camaraderie that support both their personal and professional journeys.
I am truly proud of our team for embracing diversity at our core. This past year, we launched our own DE&I statement for the chapter [read here]. I thank our incredible volunteers, Kiran Gill and Cori-Lynne Forbes, for their hard work on the statement.
We know it’s important to not just talk the talk, but rather, walk the walk. For example, we just hosted our Pride LGBTQ+ marketing panel. We filled the room at Club Café (thanks for hosting) and had an AMAzing panel of diverse panelists to share their experiences as out and proud marketers.
AMA Boston’s Pride Panel.
Intergenerational Marketers
One of my proudest moments at AMA Boston was awarding the first AMA Boston collegiate scholarship in over 10 years. We awarded this prestigious award to a first-generation college student from Plymouth State University and this year to a well-deserved Clark University student [read about her here]. As VP of Collegiate for two years, I loved getting to know the many college students who were so passionate about having a career in marketing.
As previously referenced, I am so happy to see CMOs networking with students at our events. I see hope for the future of marketing in these environments. I see that AMA Boston is truly intergenerational. Our Board is extremely diverse as well. We truly take pride in our work to make our community as inclusive as possible.
AMA Boston at Plymouth State University on a panel with the students.
Excellence in Everything We Do
I’m a big numbers person. Therefore, here are a few key statistics from the last fiscal year:
- Grew sponsorship to over 4,000%!
- Hosted over 34 events – both virtually and in-person!
- Expanded our presence to central Massachusetts, NH, and RI (and with plans to expand to Maine later this year).
- Grow our newsletter subscriber list to over 7,100 folks.
- Awarded the Membership Special Merit award at the recent AMA National’s Chapter Excellence Awards Ceremony!
- Recognized by Boston Mayor Wu’s Office for our work, especially in DE&I.
- Elevated our volunteer base to over 50 active and AMAzing volunteers across 14 teams!
- And many more!
I am incredibly proud of the community that we have built. When you come into an AMA Boston event, I hope you feel welcomed and included. Our theme this year was intentionality. In everything we do – events, podcasts, blogs, sponsorships, memberships, partnerships, volunteering, and collaboration – we carefully curate this community to be thoughtful and inclusive. As I always say to my team – from students to CMOs – everyone has a place at AMA Boston.
Our Board retreat and celebration this year!
Looking Ahead
Though I will enjoy sleeping a bit more, I am sad to be stepping down. However, I know my successor, Jeff DeSocio, is one of the greatest to take over this role! I am confident he will continue to uphold this legacy of AMA Boston and continue to make this community as special as it is.
I am not going anywhere – I’ll still be at most events and assisting the team internally. My goal has and always will be to grow this incredible chapter. We have done quite a lot in the last year, and I know the new Board will continue their incredible work.
AMA Boston’s Holiday Party!
As we look to the future, AMA Boston remains committed to fostering collaboration, growth, and innovation within our marketing community. We’re excited to continue building a network that not only helps each of our valued members succeed but also elevates the marketing profession as a whole.
If you’re a marketer in the Boston area, I invite you to join this very special community. Together, we can learn, grow, and shape the future of marketing.
Thank you all for five wonderful years at AMA Boston. It has truly been one of my greatest honors to have served this AMAzing community.
Cheers to you all! And go AMA Boston!
