I had a chance to sit down with Kimberly Stern, who was recently named one of the Top Women Leaders of Colorado for 2024. Let’s get to know her a little better!

Tell us a little bit about your professional experience in social and digital media.

My career has been on the same flight path as the rise of social media, and I’ve been fortunate to grow and evolve my career at Colorado State, my alma mater. I launched CSU into the social space in 2009 and have been helping keep it social with my incredible team ever since. I earned my undergraduate degree in journalism and then went back for my MBA at CSU. I’m a writer at heart and have used those skills every day and in every stage of my career. One of my greatest joys over the course of my career has been leaning into my developer strength and having the opportunity to build a team of exceptional digital storytellers, strategists and analysts. I’m grateful daily for the exceptional people who bring #CSUSocial to life.

From starting #CSUSocial as a team of one, to now serving as an AVP overseeing a team of 10 full-time staff, what advice do you have for someone who is just at the beginning of their career in social media?

Learn by doing. Take on an internship. Practice taking photos. Sign up for training sessions to build or hone a skill set. Ask for help. Cheer on others. Celebrate successes, even if they seem small. It’s normal to have apprehension about new opportunities. Imposter syndrome is a real thing. Jump in, soak up those learning experiences and believe in yourself. Love this quote from Adam Grant, “Impostor syndrome is not a clue that you’re unqualified. It’s a sign of hidden potential. When you think others are overestimating you, it’s more likely that you’re underestimating yourself. Others have an outside view. They can see capacity for growth that’s not yet visible to you.”

You’ve seen social media change a lot throughout your career. What’s been a welcomed change?

Organizations are valuing and investing in social media professionals which has been rewarding and refreshing to witness and also be an active contributor in this career space. The entire field of social media communications didn’t exist 20 years ago! Another welcome change is that organizations are understanding that successful social media communications is not a one-person job. The recognition that strategic and effective social media requires a team of communications professionals with distinct skills (including but not limited to writing, editing, photography, video production, graphic design, analytics, SEO, project management, and more) is critical for the growth of our field.

What are a few initiatives you have in mind for the Social and Digital Media team this year?

I am an organization enthusiast. Imagine my sheer delight when our team made the decision to transition our content calendar into Airtable. Looking forward to the team evolving our standard of practice in our content planning and prep by using this project management tool. Shoutout to our very own Kayla Coolbear and Teddi Tostanoski for leading the way with Airtable.

Excited for our team to explore and implement a strong video strategy that ties into YouTube trends and also what we are seeing on Instagram Reels and TikTok. Hannah Tran recently wrote about  short-form and long-form video strategy, and I look forward to digging in as a team.

I’m very fortunate to have a fully staffed team who are experts in their field, and I enjoy seeing our team apply their strengths to their work. From social listening and impact reports, to launching podcasts, making science social, working with our university president who is breaking the mold on how senior executives use social media, developing a branded Find Your Energy mini docuseries and more, there is much to look forward to this year.

What’s been your guilty pleasure lately?

All about the lofi beats playlist on Spotify. It’s my go-to background music while I’m working. I’ll also throw in a plug for “Go! Go! Cory Carson” on Netflix. I watch it with my kids and it really is cute and offers some nuggets of wisdom for all ages.

What’s something interesting most people don’t know about you?

I don’t like cheese. There, I’ve said it.