Unreal Digital Group (UDG) is founded by two accomplished women marketers, Cari Baldwin and Dana Harder. With over 40 years of combined experience in building and executing successful Account-Based Marketing (ABM), Content and Demand Generation Strategies, Revenue and Profit Growth Models and much more, Cari and Dana have helped countless fast-growth and enterprise-level organizations drive revenue.
How did you two meet and come together to form UDG?
Cari: Dana and I have been colleagues and friends for many years. I have a huge amount of respect for her intellect and passion and am thrilled to partner with her to create an agency focused on bringing cutting-edge marketing to b2b companies. She is also one of the smartest women I know.
Dana: Awww. I feel the same way about Cari. Every day I am inspired by her drive and passion for marketing! Cari has been a dear friend and mentor for many years, so for me, it was a no-brainer. I have a background in content strategy and creation and she has extensive experience in demand generation and marketing operations. When you marry those 2 together, you get one unstoppable team!
Most notable professional accomplishment(s)?
Cari: I built and sold an agency, BlueBird Strategies, where I learned so much from that experience. I made a lot of mistakes, but also did a lot of things right, especially around building an amazing team. I hope to apply those learnings and successes as Dana and I build Unreal Digital Group. Another venture that I am proud of is co-founding GreenFig, an education company focused on teaching people the digital skills they need to help them get the job of their dreams. There is nothing more satisfying than supporting the next generation of sales ops and marketing professionals!
Dana: Before starting Unreal Digital Group with Cari, I was overseeing another content agency. When I started, that agency was similar to where Cari and I are at now. I am proud to say I grew (with the help of an amazingly talented team) it into a multi-million dollar agency. Not only did I lead the team to that success but was responsible for landing the agency’s top enterprise clients. Like Cari, it was such an amazing learning experience with lots of failures along the way, but it has shaped me into the marketer and strategist I am today. I am looking forward to bringing those learnings into this next chapter.
Why do you do what you do?
Cari: I love our clients. I love constantly learning and working with people that I truly like to be around.
Dana: It’s funny because when people who are not in marketing ask me what I do, their eyes glaze over as I try and explain content marketing. Often they will say, I have no idea what you’re talking about but I can tell you love it. And I really do. I love understanding clients’ pain points and then partnering to build a solution that can actually change the way they are approaching marketing, and more importantly, seeing the results after to prove it really does work!
Who are you outside of work?
Cari: My family means the world to me. My husband is a tech analyst, and our son is a computer science major in college, so our conversations always seem to make their way back to technology! We also have a wonderful daughter who is a senior in high school and planning the next stage in her life. I am so proud of my kiddos. I am also a dog lover, so most of my activities outside of work and family involve my dogs. I have two Samoyeds, Tai and Valentina, and they are a handful but also fill my heart.
Dana: When I am not solving the marketing mysteries of the B2B space, I am usually in an ice rink supporting my 2 boys (Yes, I am a hockey mom!). If there is any free time outside of that, I love to drink coffee, frequent Washington wineries, and go see live music with my husband.
What’s something quirky or unique about you?
Cari: I pride myself on being a connector. I love to connect with people, help bridge conversations and watch new relationships flourish. I have been called a curator of talent, which I love.
Dana: Alright… so you asked for quirky so that is what you’re getting. I collect crystals (a.k.a. rocks) because I believe in their healing and energy qualities. There are different crystals all over my house for energy flow and healing usages. One of my son’s friends came over one time and asked if I was a geologist!
What’s a favorite quote to live by?
Cari: Maya Angelou is an inspiration with so many quotes that resonate with me. One of my favorites is “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I believe this is true. If you can make an authentic connection with a person, and let them know you care, they will remember it.
Dana: I love quotes by Amy Pohler – my favorite is: Great people do things before they are ready. This is the quote that actually inspired me to let go and start the agency with Cari!
Well, there you have it! A quick peek into the founders of Unreal Digital Group. Don’t worry, we’ll have more Q&A fun with our two fave gals in the future. Interested in connecting with Cari and Dana? They’d love to chat.
Contact us if you have any questions or would like to learn more about Unreal Digital Group and be sure to follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.