Presenting our inaugural list of the industry’s most inventive and resourceful talents. Get to know Nicole McNamee of Boundless (asi/143717).

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Where can you turn for all the latest trends in products and marketing? Nicole McNamee’s got you covered. Not only is McNamee the managing director of global accounts for Boundless, she’s the founder of ahead-of-its time blog The Promo Diaries (thepromodiaries.com), where she talks shop and gives a creative window into what’s hot in the market.

With a marketing and finance degree from the University of Tennessee, as well as a master’s in business from the University of Memphis, McNamee certainly knows her stuff. But instead of acting like the smartest person in the room, McNamee is known for being down-to-earth, endearing and professional. “I want my team to understand client needs, anticipate demand and help grow the followings our clients want for their brands,” McNamee says.

These ambitions are easily seen from her successes in authoring creative campaigns for companies of all sizes. Indeed, McNamee has raced ahead of the pack with her level of originality. Companies are taking notice, as her client list includes brands like Hilton and Carnival.

Yet to understand how far McNamee has come, you need to know where she was. She started her career in healthcare finance at a hospital where her boss told her that her vibrant personality was ill-equipped for the stoicism required of her job. “It was heartbreaking to hear that I wasn’t a good fit,” McNamee says. “But now I realize it was terrific feedback and a life-changing moment for me.” McNamee quickly found a job in promotional products sales and fell in love – a blessing she credits to her earlier experiences.

Starting The Promo Diaries was a unique undertaking McNamee never expected to take off the way it did. “I had a bit of trouble expressing my personality over the phone and through basic email targeting, so I started The Promo Diaries for people to see my personality and hear my voice and creativity in promo in a differentiating way,” McNamee says.

Building her niche through her blog and reputation are key components to McNamee’s growth. While she still uses her blog to share ideas, she’s also expanded to social media and other platforms. “I find the most rewarding part of my job to be when I creatively utilize promotions to solve a need,” McNamee says. “If we can drive results and truly show clients that promos are an effective advertising medium, they’ll keep coming back.”