Career Summary
My name is Maria Schechter, and I am a digital marketing and communications specialist with over a decade of experience creating meaningful connections through art, culture, and strategy. After graduating from college, I spent three years with the Seattle Art Museum and co-founded an international arts collective turned non-profit, What Is Art – What Is Sound, which earned a MacArthur Foundation nomination.
I began my graduate studies in Visual Arts Administration at New York University and later received the Benjamin Franklin Scholarship to attend Schiller International University in Heidelberg, Germany, where I earned my Master’s in International Business Management in 2009. My published thesis focused on cause-related marketing and the intersection of business and social impact.
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Since 2009, I have worked as a marketing and communications specialist with Cultured Social Co., developing creative projects, campaigns, and experiences that have been both professionally rewarding and deeply inspiring. Born in Pasadena and raised in the Bay Area, I was educated on the East Coast and in Europe, and shaped by living in Southeast Asia and Germany while traveling to a total of 17 countries. I bring a global perspective to my work. I believe that through thoughtful engagement and creativity, we can uncover solutions to some of the world’s greatest challenges.
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Below are a few of my favorite projects.
Cafe Pluma
Volunteer Work
Collaborated with a business owner from Mexico to develop public-facing brand assets for the U.S. market. In addition, I created a scalable strategy enabling American customers to purchase products directly from local farmers, strengthening cross-border visibility and market access.
Thai Mundo Org.
Volunteer Work
In 2010, I raised $10,000 to support a children’s orphanage in Udon Thani, located 11 hours northeast of Bangkok. The funds provided English and Spanish learning materials, art supplies, and educational resources for the children. During my time there, I also taught Thai forest monks and nuns how to build blogs and share essential information with neighboring villages — helping strengthen local communication and access to knowledge.
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The experience was deeply transformative, inspiring me to return in 2013 and 2014 to continue supporting the community.
Grimmway Farms
I was hired by a brand agency to lead efforts in securing Grimmway Farms as a client. Through strategic planning, creative direction, and a tailored brand presentation, my work successfully helped the firm win this multi-million-dollar account. Included are the pitch deck I designed and the social media strategy developed for implementation by the agency’s design team.