Professional Resume
“An accomplished creative problem solver and strategic thinker that is highly detail oriented.”
Predictive Index Reference Pattern: Creative Analytical
Carolyn “C.J.” Braden: Content Marketing Manager
View my digital portfolio by clicking here.
View my LinkedIn profile by clicking here.
Core Competencies
Leadership I SEO I UX Writing & Editing I Solutions-Based Thinking I Process Improvement I
Testing & Deployment I Reporting & Analytics I Product Design I Collaboration I Problem Solving
Qualifications Summary
I have an analytical and data driven mind with a corporate background in consulting and content creation. My background in education helped me learn to dissect difficult topics and break them down to make them much easier to understand and be highly accessible.
Some of my content work has been featured on HGTV, in InStyle Magazine, bustle.com, thespruce.com, on a Hallmark card and more. I am currently working with Pinterest in their Creator Rewards Beta program as a content creator and program feedback participant (with their UX researchers), creating accessible UX focused content targeting trending topics, while helping Pinterest create better programs for creators.
I love to write (I have written and published a YA novel and illustrated a published children’s book) in a human-friendly way and lead projects and humans to great success.
I love writing well-designed and effective UX page copy (I am currently earning my UX Design Certification via a RISE scholarship), SEO and data driven educational articles and multimedia deliverables. I also love creating short form video content, making it full of text and voice over to make it accessible for all learning styles. I have fun creating email marketing campaigns. A captivating email subject line always lives in my dreams.
I was able to take my cake business (a side hustle I started when I was working full time to capture my creative talents) and turn it into a creative DIY website in which I was able to generate income from using affiliate marketing, collaborating with publishing companies and more. It's still my side hustle and I love it working on it in my spare time as well as renovating houses with my husband.
My side hustles have sparked the driving of my educational career (I am also a former teacher) into a UX career direction, as I fell in love with it. I've always created user friendly content, and now I love creating it to help others tell their brand story and more in a creative, yet educational way.
professional experience
1/2018 to Present
B2C Digital UX Content Designer / Product Developer
Carolyn’s Blooming CReations
I transformed what began as an online cake portfolio into a user-friendly DIY educational income earning website and lifestyle product.
· Content Production and Strategy/Design: Plans and writes UX focused page copy based on quantitative and qualitative research, collaborates with content writers to write and edit SEO and data driven educational articles (sustainable lifestyle, tech, finance, DIY, health and wellness focused), creates multimedia deliverables
Accomplishments include:
o Migrated what began as a portfolio of Carolyn’s cake designs (featuring cakes I created for numerous clients) into a monetized platform that inspires thousands of users every year
· Marketing: Creates multimedia marketing materials for all social media platforms (YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, etc.) including print and digital visuals, short form video with text and voiceover, email marketing lists, feature proposals
Accomplishments include:
o Secured 15+ national and local features for HGTV, InStyle Magazine, Hallmark, thespruce.com, bustle.com, and more
o Secured 3+ partnerships with large monetization and marketing platforms such as Pinterest, SHE Media Collective, FatJoe Publishing
o Organically increased web traffic by 181% in less than one year using white hat SEO
· Project Management: Oversee all phases (research, development, implementation, analytics) of content projects
· Finance & Budgeting: Affiliate marketing program member including Amazon Affiliates, Canva, manages and tracks income from multiple sources
· Webmaster:
Branding: Designed the CBC website, color palette and logo to represent the brand
Web Navigation: Created a navigation system to make the site easy to use for all consumers
Web Maintenance: Maintain the website, including the domain, registrar and analytics using Google Analytics
Technical: Utilizes technology (Squarespace, Canva, etc) and content/project management platforms (Asana, Miro, etc) for optimal design and communication results
7/2014 to 1/2018
B2C Learning Consultant / Senior Instructional Designer
Humana
Consulted with business areas when they identified a need for technical learning or other educational materials, conducted in-person and virtual research with learners to analyze their needs and identify trends, then designed content to fit their needs, leading 300+ employees and leaders to exceptional job performance.
· Project Management: Guided national and international teams in a cross-functional environment to build consensus and optimize project performance through exceptional interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills, worked with SME’s, product developers, stakeholders and multiple leaders on a daily basis
· Content and Instructional Design: Proposed and created original and effective digital and multimedia presentations to help employees learn new technology, created marketing materials, guides and eLearning/in-person programs through the balance of technical and artistic skills in UX writing (including storyboarding and scripting), graphic design, voice over and video work using technology such as Audacity, Storyline, Captivate, Camtasia, Visio, Microsoft Office Suite, CSOD, SurveyMonkey, etc
Accomplishments include:
o Strategized a $30,000 cost-savings via researching, designing and creating a 45-minute technical training eLearning module series hosted in the LMS to replace a full-day in-person training session
o Lead the learning department to make content more accessible
o Lead the entire learning organization to a successful implementation of CSOD (the Learning Management System)
· Data Analysis: Analyzed and compiled data to configure reports for leadership to improve end results, lead end of the year design sprints to analyze trends and strategize educational needs for the next year
· Leadership and Staff Development
Accomplishments include:
o Technology: Brought 3 new technology platforms to the business via conducting research, budget analysis and written proposals
o Human Resources: Created computer-based training materials utilized by all leadership in the company to assist in quarterly and yearly associate performance reviews
o Onboarding: Developed and implemented a leadership and associate training containing onboarding procedure documents for new associates
o Mentor: Mentored numerous women on career development in the WNRG (Women’s Network Resource Group) as well as new associates on my team
1/2006 to 7/2014
Artistic Programs Coordinator & Teacher / Mentor and Coach
Jefferson County Public Schools
Instructional Design: Designed, coordinated, and evaluated artistic instruction to effectively engage and inspire students and customized programs to accommodate diverse learning styles
Budget Holder: Oversaw budget management and forecasting
Accomplishments include:
Secured Target Foundation and VSA KY grants multiple times
Fundraiser coordinator, securing sales that increased personal classroom budget from $250 to $1,200 for multiple fiscal years
Professional Development: Taught numerous professional developments to leaders and teachers about classroom management, assessment creation, and best practices in teaching methodology
Accomplishments include:
Leadership: Lead 10+ teachers to job success via the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program and other various job shadowing programs
Education and credentials
Master of Arts In Teaching, University of Louisville
Dean’s List
Outstanding Student in the Master of Arts in Teaching Program Award + Scholarship Recipient
Bachelor of Arts & Photography, University of Louisville
Zoeller Company Scholarship Recipient
Certifications
Google UX Design Certificate, ETA of Completion: Summer 2022
Rise Scholarship Recipient For Google Certificate Program, The Mom Project
Hubspot Digital Marketing Certification - 2021
Hootsuite Certified - 2019
1st, 2nd and 3rd Degrees in Usui Reiki, The Intuitive Connection, LLC, Louisville, KY: - 2017
PiYO Certification (fitness) - 2015
Kentucky Teaching Certification, Educational Professional Standards Board, Louisville, KY: - 2005