Kelly built her marketing career by following her curiosity and commitment to impact — not a traditional degree path. Today, as a Senior Associate of Marketing at Opportunity@Work, she helps design campaigns that highlight the power of skills-based hiring and the stories of workers like her: STARs (Skilled Through Alternative Routes).

Before stepping into her current role, Kelly’s journey took her across the nonprofit and education sectors, where she learned to use storytelling and digital marketing to connect people with opportunity. Without a four-year degree, she often encountered the “paper ceiling” — job postings that automatically required credentials she didn’t have. Instead of giving up, she leaned into learning by doing: taking on stretch assignments, mastering digital tools, and seeking mentors who helped her grow from a project executor into a strategic marketing partner. One breakthrough moment came when she led her team’s quarterly and half-year planning process — a chance to shape big-picture strategy and see the value of her ideas take flight.

Kelly believes that skills, drive, and adaptability can open doors that degrees can’t. Her advice to other STARs: “Don’t let a degree requirement define your potential — your work, your results, and your persistence tell your story.” Kelly’s journey reminds us that success doesn’t always follow a traditional path — but with curiosity and courage, it can still lead to a powerful impact.