Welcome to the final installment of our story series. Today, I want to shift the spotlight away from me and shine it on the people who truly make Simple Pin Media run—my team. These women show up every day to serve clients, test marketing strategies, manage systems, and push the business forward with dedication and heart. I hesitated at first—would anyone care to hear about the team? But then I realized: this is the why and how behind everything we do. It’s the reason this podcast exists, the reason we keep innovating in Pinterest marketing. And it’s a story worth telling.
Flexibility, Commitment, and So Much Heart
Simple Pin Media is made up entirely of women—something that wasn’t intentional, but just happened naturally over the years. Our team ranges from 25 to 64 years old, and we’re all over the Pacific Northwest. We’re moms, daughters, grandmothers, and wives. Everyone works their own schedule, and we prioritize flexibility—whether it’s early mornings, late nights, or during nap time. What brings us together is our deep care for our clients. We celebrate every win, big or small, and when Pinterest traffic is stubbornly stuck, we’re right there in the trenches, troubleshooting and strategizing—sometimes even after a client has stopped trying. That’s the heart of this team.
Our Systems, Our Way
Over time, we’ve built our own systems—not copied from a book or a framework, but organically developed into what we call “The Simple Pin Way.” We’ve simplified our core values down to three—Initiative, Communication, and Uplifting (or ICU, as we call it). Communication has always been our top strength, and we take it seriously—every email, every response, within 24 hours. Initiative means we don’t wait around for someone to fix a problem—we jump in. And uplifting? That’s in our DNA. Whether it’s “Frog Fridays” (Forever Recognizing Other’s Greatness) or everyday shout-outs, we make sure to recognize hard work and heart.
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Meet the People Who Make It All Happen
Leslie, my COO and integrator, is my right hand. She started nearly 10 years ago as an account specialist and has become my sounding board, my gatekeeper, and the person who helps filter all my “what if?” ideas. Risa oversees our services team, and Erin leads our Pinterest Ads and design division—both of them also worked their way up from the ground floor. Sara, our team manager, is both a strategy partner and someone I bounce wild Pinterest theories off of. Then there’s Becky, Rosanna, Megan, Jolene, Carrie, Jenny, Elise, and Heather—all amazing account specialists and leaders who manage images, clients, vacation coverage, and more.
Amy, our operations specialist, is the behind-the-scenes wizard who handles onboarding, payroll support, HR, and all the complicated “business-y” stuff most people don’t think about. Emily manages strategy calls and discovery calls, while also juggling life as a new mama. Grace and Nikki are our discovery call specialists—the first faces people meet when they explore our services. And finally, Amanda and Daphne make up our marketing team. Daphne also handles our shop, analytics, and customer support, while Amanda keeps everything running smoothly (and yes, Amanda, I still haven’t re-recorded that video—working on it!).
Culture Is Everything
This team is the lifeblood of Simple Pin Media. Yes, I get to be on the mic, speak on stages, and appear in videos—but none of that would happen without them. They care deeply about our clients and our mission. When a team member leaves, we celebrate them. We send flowers. We finish well—even if things didn’t end perfectly. And when it comes to leading, I’ve learned that you have to let people make mistakes. If you’re a hyper-controlling perfectionist, building a team might not be for you. But if you can let go, even just a little, it’s an incredible thing to watch people grow.
The books The Ideal Team Player and Traction (along with Rocket Fuel) have been instrumental in shaping our team culture and structure. We’ve adopted a modified EOS model that fits our needs, and we continue to tweak it as we grow. I’ve always tried to lead with honesty, curiosity, and humility—and I hope that shows in the way our team operates. I don’t know how many years Simple Pin Media has ahead, but whatever comes next, I know this team will remain strong, creative, and committed to making Pinterest marketing better for all of you. Thanks for listening to our story.
