My journey with Symbology was a resounding “yes” from the start – a company deeply committed to empowering women from West India and the Gaza Strip. It marked my initiation into the dynamic world of startup culture, and introduced me to the intricate dance of being “on” 24/7, a blessing and a curse that would significantly shape my future career choices.
This role underscored the critical role of social media in amplifying the voices of small businesses and establishing connections with customers and influencers. My toolkit included email marketing, newsletter outreach, crafting concise tweets, and leveraging the power of Instagram. With a well-structured social media calendar and some favorable algorithmic winds, we not only met but surpassed our Instagram engagement goals by an impressive 50%. Thanks to 1789 Venture Labs, we introduced innovative QR codes that redirected users to artisan-focused videos as part of our “Behind the Seams“ campaign, enhancing the storytelling aspect of our brand.
One of my earliest actions upon joining Symbology was to propose a complete revamp of our web content. Marissa Heyl took a leap of faith, entrusting the destiny of our website to my capable hands. As Symbology’s primary revenue stream emanated from online sales, rebranding the website could significantly impact the company’s image and financial performance. We aimed to align our brand with the spirit of our Symbologists – bold and captivating. We streamlined our web fonts, adopted a minimalist design direction, and executed the migration from WordPress to Shopify, a monumental task for an e-commerce business with vast data. This experience was a pivotal moment, where skills I had honed since my days experimenting with Microsoft FrontPage in fifth grade were put to meaningful use in contributing to a brand. Not just any brand, but a fair-trade business that reached and transformed the lives of talented artisans thousands of miles away.
Through this journey, I came to appreciate the beauty of preserving traditional crafting techniques like block printing, screenprinting, and embroidery. I realized that exposure to STEM disciplines could fuel creativity and drive business innovation. I also harnessed the storytelling potential of video marketing. Reflecting on this experience, I am profoundly humbled to have played a role in Marissa’s vision and in impacting the lives of the artisan women, wives, and mothers who found empowerment and growth through the opportunities provided by Symbology. This experience underscored the importance of collaboration, the value of learning from kindred spirits who shared a common vision, and the necessity of seeking help during challenging moments.
Jan Mactal | Design + Marketing 
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