Since graduating from Missouri State University in 2008, Drew Brucker has made a name for himself in marketing.
The college years
From Belleville, Illinois, Brucker first came to MSU in 2004. He explored various majors, but eventually found his niche in entertainment management in the College of Business.
While a student, he was also a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, the largest college social fraternity in the world. He took on several leadership roles, including vice president and an executive member of the Interfraternity Council.
Embarking on a successful marketing career
Brucker kickstarted his career in the sales department of the St. Louis Cardinals. While it was a rewarding professional experience and he was nationally recognized in sales, Brucker notes he soon realized sales did not align with his passion.
A year after his graduation, Brucker moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and has been living there ever since.
This prompted a pivotal shift toward marketing. In just six years, Brucker moved up from entry-level to vice president in the B2B tech field.
“Professionally, I’m an award-winning marketing executive who has led B2B SaaS (software as a service) startups spanning Seed to Series D+. I was recently named to the American Marketing Association’s (AMA) 2023 4 Under 40 Emerging Leaders list,” he said.
According to the AMA, the 4 Under 40 Emerging Leaders Award honors individuals who have already made significant contributions to marketing and its sub-fields and have demonstrated leadership and continuing service. These up-and-coming marketers are impacting the profession and have the potential to shape the future of the marketing industry.
Contributions to the field
Brucker has made significant contributions to the field of marketing for tech startups by scaling content and enhancing sales enablement. These efforts allow the companies he has worked with to communicate their value more effectively in a highly competitive space.
“In my previous role as the vice president of growth at a Series A startup, I led efforts that amplified annual recurring revenue, achieving 11x ARR (annual recurring revenue) growth in 24 months. I also spearheaded the launch of four new products in six months,” he said.
“My work has not only driven revenue growth but has also optimized key metrics critical to the success of any tech startup, such as conversion rates, organic traffic and customer acquisition costs. I’ve been pivotal in integrating AI into marketing workflows.”
Making the entrepreneurial leap
Brucker recently embarked on an entrepreneurial endeavor – brainchild.
“After spending the last eight years or so working in the startup scene, I’ve started my own venture where I help B2B, B2C and agencies with their branding and storytelling using AI,” he said.
Take time to explore AI
Brucker’s top piece of advice? Start experimenting with AI regardless of your career path or field.
“Artificial intelligence is already changing the workplace at a lightning-fast pace and it’s not slowing down,” he said. “It’ll be there when you show up on the first day of any job you pursue.”