Account Manager to Marketing Leader - A Journey of Success at Purina

Meet Latisha, a long-time Purina associate who drove her career path with invaluable marketing experience. Exploring multiple areas of the business, Latisha has grown both professionally and personally, as she continues to evolve our pet care business.

Tell me about your career journey and when you started at Purina.
I started my career at Purina in 2005 as an Account Manager at CheckMark (CKMK) For 14 years, I grew and developed at CKMK, working on several brands including Cat Chow ®, Purina ONE ®, Fancy Feast ® and Tidy Cats ®. After a  few years with CKMK, I wanted to learn other areas of the business and continue to further my career success. It took a little bit of time to determine where I wanted to go and develop the necessary relationships and skills, but in 2020 I transitioned to the Marketing team, and work with leading teams to create breakthrough products and communications.

What made you decide to join Purina?
After graduating from Mizzou, I joined an advertising agency in St. Louis, and I learned so much and grew professionally. Growing up in St. Louis, I always knew Purina was a great place to work. My values aligned with both the company’s purpose and culture,  and I have always had a passion for pets.  I’ve been a cat lady all my life, and many of my childhood pictures are of me with my cats—even my senior portrait!
Working for a company whose mission is to make life better for pets and the people who love them, is a dream come true.  My pets truly make my life better, and I’m proud to do my part to ensure pets are their happiest and healthiest selves through the best food, treats, and litter so that they can enrich the lives of the families who love them.
What sets Purina apart for me is not only the dedication to pets but also the values. The company fosters a culture of support, growth, connection, and excellence. The individuals I have worked with over the years are not only experts in their respective fields but also compassionate, understanding, and united in our shared goals. When I step into work each day, I feel invigorated and empowered to be my authentic self, knowing that my team genuinely cares about me, just as I care for them.

What is your favorite project that you’ve worked on?
One of my favorite projects was Housecat Housecall. This was a TV show on Animal Planet that was created by the Cat Chow® brand. This was such a fun project because we created a reality TV show where a Purina veterinarian would go into people’s homes, assess behavioral problems people were having with their cats, and develop recommendations that the family would put into place to result in a more connected relationship with their cat. This was a great project because we were making a real difference in people’s lives, and we got to travel across the country meeting cat people!

What advice would you give someone considering applying for a role at Purina?
My advice would be to do it! Working at Purina is a rewarding experience where they’ll have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of pets and their owners. You will love the people, the culture, and the pets and will come to work knowing you are doing your part to help cats and dogs live happy, healthy lives, while making an impact in the pet care industry. Purina helps foster the companionship of pets and the people who love them. Plus, who wouldn’t want to come to work every day working alongside our pets while being surrounded by passionate and innovative individuals?

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