This month’s Employee Spotlight shines a light on Acceleration Partners’, Laurie Cutts.
How long have you been with Acceleration Partners and what is your current role?
I’ve been working at Acceleration Partners for over five years. Currently, I am the head of Partnerships & Media.
Describe, in one sentence, what it is you do in your role.
I work closely with our platform, agency and investor partners, as well as with our clients and employees to build awareness of affiliate marketing to help grow new business.
What is the biggest change you’ve seen in the affiliate marketing industry since you first entered it?
The biggest change that I’ve seen since I started is the overall growth of the industry with affiliate marketing playing a more prominent role in brands’ marketing strategies.
Many companies are shifting their focus to performance marketing channels that are tied directly to outcomes and results rather than investing in marketing channels that require upfront investment with unknown returns.
Brands are increasingly leveraging affiliate marketing for everything from customer acquisition to lead generation while expanding beyond traditional affiliate partners to include business development partnerships, influencer partnerships and brand-to-brand partnerships.
Of AP’s three core values, which are you currently focusing on the most in either your professional or personal life?
I continue to focus on embracing relationships – building strong, meaningful relationships with co-workers, partners, clients and friends.
I’m genuinely interested in people and have found that investing in people, and sharing and collaborating with them, builds solid relationships for the long-term. I am grateful that the team at Acceleration Partners encourages collaboration among internal teams and building quality relationships.
With its emphasis on relationships, AP team members are comfortable sharing their knowledge, experience and skills freely with other team members. Collaboration like this encourages team members to rely on one another and form stronger relationships with clients and partners.
What are some of your favorite things to do outside of work?
In my spare time, I can likely be found running, cycling, reading, traveling, playing tennis and spending time with my family. I also love walking our chocolate lab Jack on the beach or a wooded trail.
What would you say is a common misconception about working remotely?
Working remotely doesn’t mean that the quality of communication isn’t good among team members. Video conferencing and other tools like Slack help remote teams keep in touch and feel connected. It also helps to partake in casual conversations with co-workers and non-work-related Slack channels.
And it’s always a great idea to grab dinner with co-workers at industry events!
How do you personally take advantage of the flexibility of working in a totally remote environment?
Acceleration Partners’ flexible work environment allows me to spend more time with my family and friends.
Prior to AP, I used to commute over an hour each way into an office and I would miss out on important moments with my daughters. Working at AP allows me to do meaningful work while at the same time spend time with the people that are important to me.
I can’t say enough about the amazing professional opportunities that AP provides, as well as its commitment to cultivating a culture of work-life integration.
