In this week’s Fellow Spotlight, we are checking in with Amanda Gettgen. She fills us in on what she enjoys most about Detroit, her host company, Marketing Associates, and what she enjoys most about being a Challenge Detroit Fellow.

Tell us about living in Detroit. What neighborhood do you live in and what things make it unique and exciting?

Moving to Detroit and immersing myself in one of the most significant cities in the world – rich in history and movement, passion and grit, entrepreneurial spirit and innovation, community and culture – is undoubtedly the best decision I have ever made. I live on the 25th floor of a high-rise apartment on historic Washington Boulevard in Downtown Detroit. From my balcony I can cheer on the Tigers with the rowdy fans, admiring the beauty of the Detroit River and Detroit’s central business district or peer into the distance at my hometown in Metro-Detroit. I’m smack-dab in the center of flourishing parks, trendy places to grab a craft cocktail or bite to eat, music festivals, places to shop, and a skip away from the Detroit Riverwalk. Added bonus? I live a brisk five minute walk away from work. Strolling through the city streets lined with breathtaking historic architecture as the sun rises is my favorite moment of everyday.

What do you enjoy most about living, working, playing, giving and leading in Detroit?

Although I’ve lived nearly thirty minutes away from Detroit for the greater portion of my twenty-three years on earth, it is a far cry from being actively immersed in the city day in and day out. By working, playing, giving, and leading in the city, I am able to immerse myself in the vibrant community, encourage the spirit of Detroit, explore the vast opportunities that the city has to offer, and share my experiences to promote positive perceptions of Detroit. But what I love most about Detroit, without shadow of a doubt, is the people. Detroiters are heart and soul of the city – without them there would be no pulse. The passion of Detroit is contagious and I am eternally grateful for the chance to work alongside some of the most passionate and resilient people in the world.

Tell us about your host company and your role in the organization.

My host company is Marketing Associates, a technology-driven marketing company located in the Campus Martius circle downtown. It’s a great place to work and I love that they take advantage of all the fun Detroit has to offer by participating in the Live Downtown Games, Connect After 5 Detroit leagues and other events throughout the year. But what makes the company really special is the supportive and encouraging leadership team that sincerely values hearing my perspectives, opinions and ideas. At many other organizations, recent wide-eyed college graduates entering the “real world” have a better chance of seeing a unicorn slide down a rainbow than to discuss an idea or strategy they have been working on with the CEO. At Marketing Associates I work as a Client Services Associate/Detroit Ambassador. In this unique and dynamic role I manage projects for our diversified clients, assist in the management of the company’s social media platforms, plan employee engagement initiatives that encourage employees to explore Detroit and give back to the community through the company’s Charitable Giving Team.

What have you learned from Challenge Detroit in your year as a fellow?

Wow, this question is difficult to answer. I have learned and grown more than I ever anticipated throughout my year as a Fellow. Challenge Detroit has provided me with countless opportunities to listen to and learn from political leaders, artists, activist, community leaders, entrepreneurs and an array of diverse locally focused non-profit organizations. So, I’ll do my best to summarize the most important lessons I’ve learned about work, community, happiness and finding yourself.

• Leaving your comfort zone is where the magic happens, seriously, if you’re not nervous or anxious you’re doing it wrong
• When you get lost outside of your comfort zone you find yourself, and – if you’re lucky – 35 thoughtful, brilliant and inspirational life-long friends from across the world that inspire you and push you to be a better person
• To be creative you don’t have to be an entrepreneur, but you must be entrepreneurial – in life, in your profession, your workplace, your relationships, your network, your social media, everything
• Be passionate about the work you’re doing and have fun while doing it; when you truly enjoy the people and work you are doing, the work you produce is exponentially more successful
• The old saying ‘patience is a virtue’ is 100% true – but they forgot to mention the importance of holding back assumptions, actively listening, shifting your perspective and the ability to empathize
• Collaboration is key – working alongside individuals with diverse interests, personal, educational and professional experiences opens the door to fresh and innovative concepts

What kind of impact do you hope you will leave with your host company and within the city?

I am so grateful for the knowledge and exposure to wonderful, beautiful minds and opportunities this fellowship has provided me. My year as a Challenge Detroit Fellow has been the most exhausting and rewarding, in the best ways. As a Metro Detroit native, shifting the negative perceptions of at least one of my family members, friends or acquaintances has been one of my primary goals this year. At times I felt like I was spinning my wheels and trying to save the world and not making an impact. Still, I kept working. Then, I started to see slight changes. It was working. Last month, my father celebrated his 49th + 1 birthday by taking the day off of work and exploring Downtown Detroit on his own two feet – something he would have possibly never experienced if I had given up. To all of my friends, family – thank you for giving Detroit a chance and showing me that if I have the passion, courage and drive I can reach any goal I set.

At Marketing Associates, I hope to increase employee engagement in the city by showcasing the diverse opportunities to enjoy all the city has to offer, planning more Detroit-focused employee engagement initiatives and acting as a resource to my co-workers for all things Detroit. As for the city, the Challenge Detroit program is constantly making incremental impact to reenergize Detroit and attract young professional talent to the area. I’ll never be able to return the level of impact on the city that Challenge Detroit has had on me, but I hope I do make a difference to someone, somewhere, somehow that has a sustainable positive impact on the city.

Also, be sure to check out Amanda’s video to learn more about her time in Detroit, so far.