Sahar’s Story: From AMA PDX Volunteer to Nonprofit Marketer!
Everything we do at AMA PDX revolves around building community. We take pride in being an essential community for marketers and take great care to provide local creatives with opportunities to grow and move forward, leading to numerous stories of connection, growth, and success.
One such success story is of Sahar Wilson who admittedly had “limited marketing knowledge and skills” when she first signed up to be part of the AMA PDX Agency program in 2022. The program pairs marketing volunteers with local nonprofits for a six-month, pro-bono marketing project.
Sahar’s experience as a volunteer for AMA PDX Agency led to a fantastic opportunity to become a Marketing and Communications Coordinator at one of Portland’s nonprofit organizations, Pacific Refugee Support Group (PRSG). The impactful nonprofit is dedicated to re-empowering refugees, asylum seekers, and newcomers to the community through trauma-informed care with a culturally responsive, and human-centered approach.
We sat down with Sahar to learn more about her story and how she's still currently helping her nonprofit, and to get some words of wisdom about the AMA PDX Agency program.
Q: Tell us how you connected with AMA PDX, and what you were looking to accomplish.
A: As a recent marketing graduate with some administrative experience, I felt the need to sharpen my marketing skills. I was eager to transition into a full-time marketing career, but knew I needed to gain more hands-on experience. That’s when I came across the AMA PDX Agency program. Even though I applied just after the deadline and didn’t expect a response, the leaders of the program reached out to me, and I was happy to become part of the team!
Q: When you were set up with a nonprofit group, did you dive right in?
A: Oh, not right away! We were lucky to have a team with different levels and backgrounds regarding marketing expertise, ranging from a Chief Marketing Officer, and an Account Manager leading the team, to students and recent graduates like me. I wanted to understand how marketers think. I’m naturally social and have a bit of an artistic touch, so I offered help where I could, like with presentations, but mostly I was focused on being eyes and ears to observe and learn as much as possible.
Q: What were the goals of PRSG as part of the Agency program, and how did you fit in?
A: PRSG is a wonderful group that creates a meaningful impact in the lives of those they support. Like many small nonprofits, they faced a growth challenge. Their focus on directly helping people left little time to update their website, marketing materials, or ensure consistent messaging as they grow and their programming evolves. Realizing they needed support, PRSG applied to receive free consulting with AMA PDX Agency for help with a complete website overhaul and assistance in organizing their communications and branding efforts.
Q: So, this is where you started?
A: Yes, this is where the work started. After a few conversations with the team and with our client, we realized that what they were lacking wasn't just an impactful website, but the right communications strategy to reach their recruitment goals. Instead, we focused on market and audience research, developing marketing and social strategies, and creating a brand style guide. As a research and strategy-driven example, we revamped the volunteer page to make it more user-friendly and engaging. We provided a total of 10 deliverables to guide the future website redesign and other projects, resulting in a transformative impact.
Q: That’s pretty amazing, how else did you create value?
A: Two more things are worth mentioning. First, we introduced a new color (caramel) into their brand palette, after researching their broader audience, aiming to create a more balanced and welcoming experience for users. Second, through our team's work and presentations, we demonstrated the value of having a marketing professional lead the effort. Based on our recommendation, PRSG decided to hire one. The role and the organization interested me, so I applied, was hired, and the rest is history!
Q: Looking back, what would you say are the three best things you learned from this whole process?
A: Wow, it’s hard to stop at just three, but here goes:
I didn’t know what to expect at first. I was just looking for volunteer work, but I ended up becoming part of a community that truly cared about my success. They pushed and challenged me. I had a full team I could turn to, even with the silliest questions, and they were always there to support me. That, in turn, helped me better support PRSG.
Before joining AMA PDX, I felt like I was on the outside of the marketing circle, but now I feel like I’m in the circle!
Thanks to the AMA PDX Agency program, I was able to showcase my skills and work directly with a real client. I was looking for a new career when the client realized they needed a marketing person. Since they had seen the value I brought to their organization during my Agency tenure, hiring me to continue the good work was an easier decision. The timing couldn’t have been better, and now I’m doing what I love!
Q: Have the deliverables been implemented at the organization since you were hired?
A: Yes, I refer to the documentation and the research my team created whenever possible. I was able to complete a website overhaul shortly after I was hired, thanks to all the work put into the marketing strategy, messaging, and brand style guide. I was able to lead a successful rebranding project, as well as the creation of an organizational video, fulfilling a couple more of my AMA PDX Agency team’s recommendations.
Q: Do you have any advice for future AMA PDX Agency participants?
A: I'd say to have fun with the experience, but to also take it seriously. Life is all about timing, and you never know when opportunities will come your way, so be prepared. And most importantly, learn from the expertise of the team you're matched with—they're incredible, just like you!
Learn more about the AMA PDX Agency program!
Sahar Wilson is the Marketing and Communications Coordinator with Pacific Refugee Support Group (PRSG). She lives with her husband and their 3 kitties in Beaverton, OR and works out of the Portland office.