Maegan Toups
Vice President of Marketing
Airswift
Personal Journey
Can you share a bit about your personal journey and what led you to your current position?
I started at Airswift in 2009 in a recruitment and business development role. After supporting a large emergency response project in 2010, I was approached by my boss about starting the company’s marketing department. It was a new role, a new department, and required a lot of foundational work, but I fell in love with marketing and enjoyed the new challenge.
How do you balance your professional responsibilities with personal commitments?
Thankfully, I’m blessed to work at a company that values flexibility, so this makes managing professional and personal priorities easier, especially as a single mom. I work in a global role, so I sometimes have calls with earlier time zones at 6 am before my kids wake up or at 7 am while we’re in the car. On days like this where I start earlier, I tend to end the day earlier too so I can pick up my kids up from school and take them to extracurricular activities. We work a half day on Fridays, but I usually work in the afternoon too and use that time to catch up on admin tasks. Overall, I try to be as efficient as possible during my working hours so I can be with the two tiny people who need me the most in the mornings and evenings.
Advice for the Next Generation
What advice would you give to young women aspiring to leadership roles?
Invest in relationships as well as your performance. Relationships will give you an edge when it comes time for promotions and raises. Volunteer for special projects and committees that will allow you to form new relationships and get noticed in ways you might not otherwise.
Are there any specific skills or qualities you believe are essential for future leaders?
Lead with empathy. If you understand the needs, thoughts, and feelings of others, you’ll form more positive relationships with them. People typically work harder for someone they have a good personal relationship with, so you’ll be able to motivate them and drive results. It humanizes you as a leader and is an incredibly important skill to develop.
Importance of Giving Back
Can you share any personal experiences or stories where giving back has had a significant impact?
I believe giving back is the right thing to do because scripture tell us that. Also, it keeps us grounded and allows us to help others. At Airswift, we give back to various cancer societies and organizations all over the world. Through this, we’ve received education about the importance of screening and early detection. This saved the life of our CEO, Janette Marx, who was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer after getting her annual mammogram. Later that same year, two other members of our Operating Board were also diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully, all three are still alive and well due to early detection. Organizations we partner with, like the American Cancer Society, give funds to advance the research for life saving cancer treatments and we are so grateful to be a part of it.
Additional Insights
How do you stay motivated and continue to grow professionally?
I surround myself with people who are hungry to learn, motivated to move up professionally, and never satisfied with staying still. They encourage me to continually improve and inspire me to learn new skills or ways of doing things.
Can you share any books, podcasts, or resources that have been particularly influential in your career?
“They Ask You Answer” by Marcus Sheridan is a book I recommend to anyone who is in marketing and/or sales. He provides simple and actionable tips you can take to create content that truly address the questions your customers have, ultimately making them more inclined to buy from you.