Today’s post is the third in a series where we’ll be profiling each member of our leadership team here at Clix. We hope you enjoy getting to know us!
In our Clix Marketing land of digital marketers with mostly digital marketing backgrounds, Mae Polczynski is a breath of fresh air. While she does have digital, social and retail marketing experience, she brings a lot more to the table. Prior to joining Clix, her responsibilities ranged from graphic design to public relations to facility management for a performing arts center.
Variety seems to characterize Mae’s life. For starters, she grew up on the bayou in Southeast Texas. Then she spent time traveling the globe with flight benefits she earned from working at American Airlines. Then she landed a job at Murray State University that allowed her to rub shoulders with the likes of Ben Folds.
Lucky for us, throughout her years of varied job roles and responsibilities she discovered her love for operations management:
“My first job after college was for the tourism commission in a small university town. It was a great learning environment. We were understaffed so I was given the freedom to create new events and festivals and have complete ownership of operations. I became hooked on logistics. And because it was a smaller town, people were very passionate about the events. I loved seeing the impact of my work on the community.”
When she’s not rocking Clix operations, you’ll likely find her playing with her nine-month-old son Arthur or in her metalsmithing studio creating beautiful jewelry. Read on to learn more about Mae’s childhood on the bayou, her favorite things about working at Clix and what’s on her bucket list.
What did you want to be when you were a kid and why?
It varied- a journalist, an artist, a designer, an inventor. Mostly I just wanted to be a grown up. And to make things.
Describe your jobs/roles at the companies you’ve worked for.
One of my favorite jobs was for Murray State University. I handled operations for the arena and the performing arts theater as well as booked and promoted concerts for the spaces. I started a concert series that hosted intimate concerts with artists like Ben Folds and Damien Rice. Back then we used MySpace to find indie bands. It was a cool job.
What personal characteristics do you think have most contributed to your career success?
Perseverance.
What is your favorite thing about your job?
The first call with a client prospect. Hearing their stories is intriguing, and discerning how we fit into the puzzle is exciting.
What is your favorite thing about working in this industry?
All the smart people.
If you could go back in time to when you first started working in Operations and give yourself one piece of advice what would it be?
Trust your instincts. Even when it is the more difficult choice. They will be right nearly every time.
What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Persuading great people to join the Clix team.
What’s one thing about you that few people know?
During my early childhood, my family lived on the bayou in Southeast Texas. “On the bayou” sounds like an exaggeration until you view the address in Google Satelite. Living in that environment – playing in the Spanish moss-covered woods and swimming in the murky bayou inlet – certainly left an imprint on me.
What do you do when you aren’t working?
For the last nine months it is all about Arthur, our baby. Before that, if I wasn’t in my metals studio I was outdoors with my husband, Ryan. We also traveled a lot. And we both have huge families we enjoy.
What’s your favorite place you’ve traveled to? Where would you still like to go?
In 2014 I spent the month of August in Montreal and Quebec City. I loved the people and the place. That could be my favorite. Unless the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal counts. Then definitely that.
After high school (and again during college) I worked for American Airlines at a tiny regional airport to earn flight benefits. I constantly traveled. There aren’t many places left on my list. Maybe Austria.
What’s on your bucket list that you’ve completed and have yet to complete?
Oh man, I wish I had a bucket list. I’ve never gotten around to making it. So maybe that’s #1- make a bucket list.
That’s a wrap! We hope you enjoyed getting to know Mae a little better. She’s a great asset to our Clix team and we’re proud to call her one of our own. Next time I’ll be chatting with John Lee, one of our Managing Partners, so keep an eye out for that post next month!
