Meet one of our Social Media Arsonists, Karina! The newest member of the MindFire team is in the hot seat to answer questions about social media trends, the trends that have GOT to go and her dream job!

What led you to working at MindFire?

I’m a St. Ambrose Bee who graduated in 2019 after studying marketing and graphic design. My social media career started in college by managing the social pages for the university’s food service company. Followers got their menu for the day, stayed up to date on coffee shop deals and went behind the scenes for special events. MindFire takes that to the next level by allowing me to serve many clients and collaborate with an immensely creative team.

You basically grew up with social media. What are your earliest memories of it?  

I’m part of the first generation to experience a world where social media has always been present. I’ve been on some form of social media my entire life. I learned how to code my MySpace page to add music and cool backgrounds to my profile. The social media landscape has changed a lot since then!

What’s your favorite thing about working with social media in a professional setting?

I think it's really fun to help brands discover their own voice. So many organizations are learning that they can be lighthearted and funny on social platforms while remaining true to their brands. People enjoy content that is relatable, and they’re more likely to engage if they feel the communication is authentic.

What’s “cringey” on social media these days?

The staged pranks have got to go! So many of them seem fake – and just plain mean. If your only objective is to embarrass someone, skip it.

What’s one piece of advice you give about making the best use of social media?

Don’t be intimidated by short-form videos like Instagram Reels! They’ve never been easier to make, thanks to the new template tools that essentially do the heavy lifting for you. Just plug and play your photos, pick a sound and post. It’s a fun and easy way to share your own content while keeping up with the latest trends.

Do you have a dream client? Whose social media accounts would you LOVE to be running?

That’s easy – AirBnB! I’d travel to properties all over the world and share content about each of them. C’mon, that’s a collaboration we can make happen, right?

Offline, what are your hobbies?

I love to put my crafty skills to the test. Whether it’s painting or DIY-ing a new home project, I love to create things to share with family and friends. My grandma got me started when I was young, and I’ve never stopped.

What goals do you have for yourself this year – personally or professionally?

My goal is to stop hitting the snooze button and become a morning person. I’d like to be better at taking advantage of my whole day, maybe enjoying a cup of coffee or a walk before work. My hope is it would get me in a better mindset at the start of my day and be more productive.

Denise Hnytka

Denise Hnytka is a Public Relations Arsonist at MindFire. Her focus is on building strategic media partnerships to amplify client brands.