Meet Kelly Savage | Director of Social Media and Engagement at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelly Savage and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelly, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
“What’s coming will come, and we’ll meet it when it does.” – Hagrid

I love this quote from Harry Potter because it is a gentle reminder that what is going to happen will happen. Sometimes, we have to accept the unknown and allow ourselves to own the understanding that we have the wisdom and ability to take things as they come.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As someone who was graduating college as the use of social media began to rise, I never would’ve imagined myself growing into a career in social, but I’m so glad I did. It’s allowed me to hone my writing skills in a new way, flex my creative muscles, and find success in a job that is different each and every day. The health care industry is a really special place to be. We’re using social media for good – which can be a hard thing to do in a landscape that is getting increasingly toxic – by providing reliable, evidence-based information and telling the incredible stories of the patients being treated and research breakthroughs happening every day.

I got where I am today by being flexible and willing to learn. Most of my early experience came from me championing the use of social media as a tool in the broader digital marketing kit that I was responsible for and being determined to show the value. It definitely wasn’t easy – and some days, it still isn’t. Social media is changing constantly, and there are still many industries where it isn’t respected the way that it should be. And there is still so much that the average person doesn’t understand when it comes to the work that goes in to truly making a brand successful on these platforms.

I’m incredibly proud of the work my team has done at the medical center, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. We were all in completely new territory and found ways to step out of our comfort zone to inform people while also being entertaining and attempting to set ourselves apart. And in line with that, I’m proud of the trust that I’ve built in my expertise so that when those moments where we can push the envelope come along, leadership knows I’ll make the best choice for the brand.

Along the way, I’ve learned that no matter where you are in your career, having a support system is so important. It allows you to stay grounded, get creative and stand for what you believe in. It’s possible to do this job alone, but its a lot more fun to do it with other passionate people by your side.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I absolutely love Columbus – I moved here for college 20 years ago and immediately fell in love with it. When family and friends come to visit, we love to show them around and people are always surprised at how much there is to do here.

Favorite spots to visit:
– German Village: walking around the neighborhoods, popping into the Book Loft, enjoying the scenery at Schiller Park
– Ohio State campus: showing off where I went to school, getting lost in the nostalgia and of course taking in a football game in the fall
– Franklin Park Conservatory
– Main library branch downtown
– Otherworld
– Catch a sporting event at Huntington Park, Lower.com Field or Nationwide Arena
– Attend a concern at the Newport Music Hall

Top restaurants/bars:
– Fine dining: Agni, Martini, Jeff Ruby’s, Veritas, Barcelona
– Casual dining: The Old Mohawk, South Village Grille, Aab, Lavash, Club 185, Tip Top
– Bars: Citizens Trust, Lawbird, Brothers Drake, Denmark, Slammers, Mickey’s for karaoke

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am only who I am today – both professionally and personally – because of the women who have led me throughout my career: Amy Marshall, Yvonne Rayburn, Megan Stanley, Charlotte Wilson and Karri Benishek. I have been incredibly lucky to work with so many strong, intelligent, empathetic women in my career, but those who I have had as a boss have had a huge hand in shaping the way that I manage my team. They consistently showed that it is possible to lead with love and kindness while also being a firm, guiding hand and expert, and that our strength lies in being women.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellysavage52/