Meet Pondurance: Madison Atwater

For this month’s spotlight, we spoke with Madison Atwater, a Marketing Coordinator at Pondurance who started with the company as an intern back in April. Although her background isn’t in cybersecurity, her creativity and attention to detail allowed her to jump right in and thrive.

What interested you in becoming an intern for a cybersecurity company?

When the opportunity to work with a cybersecurity company initially popped up, I was hesitant since it didn’t match my background. But, as a creative, I think it’s important to learn different industries and apply those tools and skills throughout other jobs in other fields. So, I was excited about the opportunity to learn more about the marketing side of cybersecurity and technology. After that, every sign seemed to be pointing to this opportunity. I got the chance to talk with Hayley Hogan, our Digital Content Marketing Manager, and the rest of the marketing team and quickly noticed their passion and commitment to Pondurance, which was really encouraging for me. 

What is a typical day like for you?

Each day is a little bit different, which is one of my favorite parts of the internship! I typically start each morning checking our social media pages for new activities, prioritizing tasks for the day, and attending a few team meetings. Some days I focus more heavily on content, such as creating social posts and emails and researching new ways to interact with our audience. Other days are filled with keeping our marketing assets organized, reviewing copy, and working on the backend of the website. I wear a lot of different hats, which keeps every day interesting. 

What tools and techniques have you learned that are most valuable to you?

I’ve had the opportunity to work with a lot of new software systems and applications, such as WordPress and Pardot, while also refining my knowledge and skills with tools I have used in the past. Through my work with social media, I have learned so much about platforms I thought I mastered and new platforms I had never used before. These hard skills will carry with me wherever my career goes. 

The most impactful things I have learned, however, have been from my mentors. From career advice to helpful tools and tricks and everything in between, my team members have shared meaningful insights and personal experiences to help me grow as a marketing professional, a team member, and someone starting a career path. 

How is the overall marketing internship experience?

Amazing! I get to work with an incredibly supportive and passionate team that constantly teaches me new things about not only marketing and cybersecurity but also how to succeed in my future career. In my first month as an intern, I worked on our brand relaunch. Seeing a project like this come to life from the hard, intense work of the entire team and me was rewarding and exciting. It set the tone for the rest of my internship. I am constantly on my toes and learn something new every single day. 

A week ago, I transitioned to a full-time Marketing Coordinator position with Pondurance. After a few months filled with great experiences, I decided this was the best place to continue my career. I am so excited to officially be a part of the team and begin my career in cybersecurity!  

Anything else you want to add?

A piece of advice to other students or interns looking for jobs: Find a company that represents your values and invests in both your personal growth and professional development. As someone with internship experience with multiple companies, working for an organization committed to your success is more inspiring and fulfilling. I feel so lucky to be a part of such a supportive team and company. 

Interested in joining the Pondurance team? View our current openings!