Nella Rouse

Name: Nella Rouse

Years as a Camper: 2 years as a starter camper, 6 years at First Session, and CILT year! (2006-2014)

Years as a Staff Member/Positions held: 2 years, Junior Counselor on Powerboating Staff (2015 & 2016)

Current Profession and Title/Years in Role: Paid Social Specialist, Growth Marketing at Saks OFF 5TH - 1.5 years

Can you provide a brief overview of your job responsibilities?

Day to day as a Paid Social Specialist on Saks OFF 5TH's Growth Marketing team, I am building out, tracking and reporting on Saks OFF 5TH's paid social media ads. This includes Facebook and Instagram ads, TikTok ads, Pinterest ads and Snapchat ads. It is my job to work with our in-house creative team to produce ads that will run across these platforms and drive our audience to shop. These can be anything from an Instagram story to a TikTok video. I strategize the placement of these ads and then report to our larger team on the performance of the ads including how many clicks they drove, how many sales they drove and more. Prior to this role, I was a Brand Media Coordinator for the Growth Marketing team, which meant I strategized and executed all our ad placements on YouTube, connected/streaming TV platforms, audio and podcast platforms and digital magazines. 

Do you have any career advice for members of our Camp community?

Focus on what you’re good at! I think one of the best things you can do for yourself in your career is understand what your strengths are and hone in on making those stronger. When we’re younger, the focus tends to be on being a “well-rounded” student, athlete, artist, etc. But as you get older, the value you bring to your career is the specific skill set you have or the specific set of traits you possess that make you, you. Putting your time and energy into strengthening the things that you love and that you know you can do well will not only make you happier but will make you better at your job!

What do you believe have been some of your greatest personal and professional accomplishments? Is there a goal toward which you are currently working?

I think my greatest professional accomplishment was taking the risk of starting a new job in a new field. When I graduated college, I went to work for a PR agency, and after moving up to New York and working there for about a year, I landed the opportunity to work at Saks OFF 5TH doing marketing. I was really nervous about making the switch because I didn’t feel like I actually had the qualifications for marketing. However, I took the risk, and it was the best decision I could have made. I love my job, and I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do, working in marketing and the fashion/retail industry. My goal now is to build on what I’ve learned over the past year and become more of a leader for my team.

How do the values or skills you learned at Camp show up in your everyday work and/or personal life? 

Camp taught me so many great life skills that show up in both work and personal life. I think one of the biggest ones is the ability to work well with others. From being a camper to a counselor, you are constantly meeting and working with new people. Campers come from across the world, so at a young age, you are introduced to different ways of life, personalities and perspectives in an environment that is inclusive, encouraging and safe. Camp activities like Cabin Night, Building Night, cabin responsibilities, etc. encourage kids to work together and get to know one another. While being a counselor working with an entire staff of people on an activity, as well as managing 12 campers with your co-counselors, you’re quickly taught how to manage working with new people as a team. Fast forward to a career setting and you’re better able to come into a new project or a new team with an open mind, an ability to adapt to different working styles and the confidence and leadership skills to problem solve efficiently with others. 

Is there a person or a situation that had a huge influence on you while you were at Camp? How and why did they/it impact you?

My last summer as a camper, Mary Katherine Field and Tess Bettinsoli were my counselors. At that moment in time, I was so susceptible to what everyone was doing around me, comparing myself to others and trying to be “cool.” MK and Tess were the best counselors because they treated me like a friend, they gave me responsibility and pushed me to achieve my goals. By not letting me “slack off” in my last year as a camper and not treating me like a younger camper, they helped me become a better version of myself. I ended up going for my Master Pilot and although I didn’t pass the test that summer, they were right there to help me through my disappointment and get me right back on my feet to try again. 

What advice would you give your younger self? Treat everything like a learning experience! Life is your greatest teacher. 

Favorite Camp meal: 4th of July! The hot dogs, chili and fries were so good, but the best was being able to get chocolate milk from the milk coolers.

All-time favorite skit memory: My all-time favorite skit was when it was Dance Night and I think the directors would stand up and say that the dance wasn’t happening. They’d blame it on the weather, or the buses had broken down and Sea Gull couldn’t make it. Then the Head Counselors of all the Camps would storm in blasting a rock song while wearing all black sunglasses and save the dance.

Favorite special event at Camp: College Night as a camper. Cracking open everyone’s soda at the same time was the best tradition and I loved getting to wear UNC gear and hear everyone’s cheers!

Devotion you best remember from Camp: Our days are like identical suitcases. They’re all the same size, but some people can pack more into them than others.