From Isolation to Integration: What Training 40 Colleagues in Social Media Taught Me About the Future of Work

Over the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to train nearly 40 individuals across multiple corporate teams in social media—and it’s been one of the most eye-opening, transformative chapters of my career. Not because of a viral post or explosive engagement metrics, but because of what I’m witnessing at the ground level: people stepping into their voice, showing up for their brands, and finding a renewed sense of purpose in the process.

And if I’m being honest, I needed this transformation as much as they did.

Rebuilding Myself—And a Business—From the Ground Up

My journey in digital marketing started in 2018, when I left university and moved to Chiang Mai, Thailand—then a hotbed for digital nomads chasing Facebook ad gold through dropshipping and Amazon FBA. I taught myself Shopify, ad strategy, and how to build online stores from the ground up, surrounded by a circle of fellow expats who were all figuring it out together.

From there, I moved into the techpreneur hustle of Montreal, thrived in fast-paced environments, and then—everything changed. I established Ellie Social Media and matched my 9-5 salary in the first year. But then... I got pregnant, moved back to Vancouver, and entered what I now call my hibernation era.

For 2.5 years, I tried to bootstrap my business while raising a baby. It was beautiful, brutal, and isolating. I didn’t have the village I expected. The few support systems I did have fell through in unexpected ways. The only thing I knew how to build was online—and suddenly, that wasn’t enough. I was lonely. I was tired. I was drowning in postpartum depression.

Coming Out of the Cave

Eventually, I stopped trying to do everything myself. I wanted connection. Community. Teamwork. And it’s wild how the universe listens when you finally say it out loud.

I got matched with a client whose organization spans 9 locations, multiple subteams, and a bold mission to inspire health and fitness. Suddenly, I wasn’t building in isolation anymore—I was leading a collaborative social media strategy involving dozens of trainers, managers, and social media novices. I developed a system that allowed the entire team to take part in content creation and performance, not just one burnt-out social media manager posting into the void.

And through it all, I started sending regular email trainings—30 minute videos, insights, strategy tweaks—something I’m no stranger to after livestreaming over 250+ times in my career. But this felt different. Because now, I was building something bigger than just a content calendar.

This Is What Social Media Should Feel Like

It shouldn’t be a lonely job. It shouldn’t feel like you’re fighting for a seat at the corporate table. Social media, when done right, creates magic moments for everyone involved. When a team member sees their video perform well, or when someone steps out of their comfort zone to post for the first time and gets positive feedback—that’s the magic. That’s what builds confidence. That’s what builds a brand from the inside out.

The strategies I teach now are not just about growth or engagement—they're about buy-in. They’re about integrating social media into a culture so deeply that it becomes a source of pride. It becomes a documented history of your team’s energy, creativity, and progress.

What’s Next

As we head deeper into a tech-dominated future, with more tools and AI than we know what to do with, I’ve learned that nothing replaces human-driven content. That’s what I’m leaning into now in my 30s. This chapter isn’t about being the solo mompreneur doing it all. It’s about managing people. Empowering teams. Passing the torch and making sure everyone feels seen, heard, and capable online.

I’m building the kind of community I always wished I had when I was starting out: one that trains, uplifts, and includes.

Because the future of social media isn’t one person behind a screen—it’s everyone, together.