Paris Rouzati is a marketing maven. Paris is the head of marketing at about.me and was recently named one of Forbes 30 Under 30. She works with companies to help them grow engaged communities of users through storytelling, integrated marketing, social media, growth hacking, and partnerships. Paris has a deep understanding of millennial and Gen Z culture and the global influencer community, and her philosophy is that creating customer-centric content and experiences that spark conversations will turn your users into your best marketers. When Paris isn’t working, you can find her traveling, trying new restaurants, blogging, taking photos, learning French, and spending time with her unbelievably adorable husky.

How did you end up as the head of marketing at about.me? What was your career path?

It’s quite a funny story. I was doing a lot of freelance marketing work at different agencies before about.me. I loved being a freelancer, and getting to work on different projects. I was at SXSW a couple years ago for one of my clients, and it was freezing. I grabbed a beanie from the first store I could find. The beanie said “Too Dope” on it. I remember walking around the Four Seasons in Austin (where everyone networks and hold meetings at SXSW), and Tony, my current boss, comes up to compliment me on my new beanie and asked if I wanted a “Blue Bottle” beanie. We snapped a selfie and went on our ways. Three months later, he gave me a job offer to run marketing at about.me. I moved across the country to San Francisco to do it. It has been an amazing journey. I guess it’s really about “who you know” when it comes to the job search.

What has been your proudest moment so far?

I have so many. I think the amount of knowledge I’ve learned in my current job has been the most rewarding thing. I also was just named Forbes 30 Under 30, which is super exciting and such an honor.

What is your favorite thing about working at about.me?

I love the startup environment. Imagine being with a team of people from all sorts of backgrounds and experiences coming together to create a product that we believe will change the world!

What is a typical day like for you? Please walk me though a day!

My puppy wakes me up at about 6:00 am with her tail wagging, ready to eat breakfast. My boyfriend and I usually take her to the dog park, and then come back for 30 minutes of yoga or meditation. I’m usually running out of the house with a smoothie on my way to work.

After work, I try to relax and unwind but still try to get one productive thing done a night. We will usually cook on the weekdays or grab something on Caviar and either watch an episode of the latest it-show on Netflix or I’ll read on my Kindle before bed.

What is your advice for someone who hopes to work in marketing?

1) Market a product you’re actually passionate about, because if you don’t believe in it, it will be really hard to convince consumers to use your product.

2) Read A TON. I find a lot of amazing articles on Medium, and I would also subscribe to some newsletters like Hitenism and Growth Hackers.

3) Twitter is your friend. Network with fellow marketers, hop into conversations, share your ideas, and ask questions.

You have such a strong social media presence. What advice do you have for building a strong social media following?

Engage with people, and find your niche. Don’t focus on your follower count, focus on your engagement, and the quality of interactions you’re having. I would also focus on how you can provide value to conversations on Twitter. Oh, and use VSCO for your Instagram photos – their filters are amazing!

Congrats on Forbes 30 Under 30! What was that process like?

Thank you! A couple of my friends and mentors nominated me, and I received an email saying I was a finalist. I had to answer some interview questions, and I found out in January when the magazine was printed. I feel really honored to be on the list with such incredible and inspiring people.

What is on your desk right now?

I’m always on the go, so my desk is pretty minimal. A cup of tea, my Moleskin, some Staedler fine marker pens, my space grey Macbook, brazil nuts, and occasionally my camera.

How would you describe your professional style? What are a few staples?

Effortless yet chic. My standard uniform is a black or dark grey turtleneck and high-waisted black denim (you can dress pretty casually in the Valley) with a leather jacket and booties. I’m also really loving wearing my Apple Watch – its both stylish and highly useful.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

Trust your potential. Visualize where you want to be, and map out what you think it will take for you to get there – and you will.

What is your best advice for other young professional women?

I say this all the time, but meet as many people as you can. It can be as effortless as asking why a Uber driver started driving, or talking to the stranger next to you at a coffee shop. The most interesting opportunities in my life have come to me through serendipitous conversations, and I’ve learned so much about people, their behaviors, what drives them to communicate, to buy things, and much more through these small conversations.