A Day in the Life of Liz Monachino

Step into a day in the life of Liz Monachino, MDK’s Brand Manager, as she juggles creative content creation, strategic brand planning, and networking. From enhancing brand presence to balancing personal time, Liz’s day reflects her passion for both her career and well-being. Follow along as Liz manages it all!

8:00am | Energizing the Start of the Day
I start my day with my favorite: a crisp Diet Coke (sometimes with lemon). It’s the perfect way to wake up! I settle into the morning with a few rounds of New York Times games—Wordle, Spelling Bee, Connections, Strands, Sudoku, and of course, the mini crossword. I love them all!

9:00am | Jumping into Work: Organizing and Prioritizing

‍I begin my workday by reviewing my to-do list. I used to keep these on paper, but switching to a Word document has definitely helped me stay more organized. After that, I check Teams and emails. I review today’s social media post- a profile of our Illinois practice- scheduled for publishing today then move on to creating content for our brand ambassadors to share on LinkedIn.

"When creating social posts, I usually start by checking the template library, but I prefer to create from scratch. My goal is to incorporate the brand’s logo, colors, and elements in a way that feels fresh and engaging. I also make sure to add movement to the designs to keep them visually appealing and ensure people don’t scroll past them."

10:00am | Team Collaboration: Strategic Brand Discussions
I have a mid-morning brand management strategic planning call with Megan Spanner and the MDK’s Practice Group Directors. The purpose of the call is to discuss the goals of our Attorney Brand Ambassador program. Practice Group Director Valerie Edgecombe shares updates on the organizations she’s involved in, including the Stetson College of Law Alumni Program, ARDA-WIN Executive Committee, National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) and many more as well as pro bono work.

‘As MDK’s Brand Manager, my work is all about ensuring that MDK’s messaging is clear, professional, and client-focused. Whether it’s through social media posts, newsletters, or even website content, I help position MDK as a trusted, forward-thinking partner for mortgage servicers, financial institutions, and legal professionals. Strengthening the firm's reputation and ensuring its brand stays relevant is at the core of everything I do.”

11:00am | Refining Messaging: Shaping Client Connections
My next call of the day is with Brent Gibbs, MDK’s Principal and General Counsel and the RMBD team to discuss our timeshare positioning for a new project we’re working on. We review the core messaging and brainstorm ways to refine it to better connect with our clients and prospective clients.

"My favorite parts of my job are being creative and working with the team. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of such a supportive and collaborative group, and that’s been a big reason I’ve stayed with the company for so long. The gratitude and camaraderie we have really make the work feel fulfilling."

12:00pm | Lunch and Recharge: Fuel for the Afternoon
Lunch is a chance for me to relax and recharge. I like to meal prep hearty, flavorful meals, and today it’s Taco Tuesday! I get to enjoy my homemade taco seasoning (extra spicy, of course) with lots of fresh veggies on the side. After lunch, I take a quick walk with my dog, Massimo.

1:00pm | Connecting and Inspiring: Expanding My Network
After lunch, I get back into work mode. I head to LinkedIn to connect with some of the people I met at the SXSW conference. It was an incredible experience! I was blown away by the caliber of professionals I met. Learning from marketing pros like Katie Welch, CMO of Rare Beauty and networking with influential individuals from different industries was such a treat. The sessions on brand building, transforming communications, and customer loyalty really inspired me and gave me new ideas for our own work.

2:00pm | Creative Project: Designing the Perfect Pitch
I move on to work on a pitch deck for Brittany Anderson, MDK’s Director of Business Development. She needs a presentation for a pitch meeting coming up, so I pull together the key points and design elements. I’m always up for creating something compelling that helps our firm stand out, so this is an exciting task. It’s all about getting the right balance of visuals and information.

"Maintaining flexibility is really important to me. I’m always ready to pivot quickly, especially when new tasks or urgent needs come up. I’ve also learned to anticipate certain feedback, particularly from specific team members, and I tailor my work to align with their preferences."

3:00pm | Collaboration with Ryan Magada: Crafting Our Online Presence
I hop on a call with Ryan Magada at Brave Little Beast to discuss our website sitemap and revamp project. We talk through the necessity of updating the website due to our new messaging. It’s a domino effect—once we update one area, the rest needs to follow. I’m particularly excited about the practice pages and the chance to communicate our team’s bold identity. It feels great to move away from past hesitations and embrace a more confident tone. I also can't wait for the upcoming photo shoot to show off more of our team on the website.

4:00pm | Wrapping Up: Finalizing and Preparing for Tomorrow
As the workday winds down, I wrap things up by finalizing a nomination submission for one of our firm’s awards and giving a final review to the competitive analysis I’ve been working on. My goal is always to clear out my inbox so I’m not leaving anything hanging. I also review my calendar for the next day so I know exactly what’s on my plate.

5:00pm | Unwinding: Fitness and Relaxation Time
When the workday is over, I get ready to head to Orangetheory. I recently hit a milestone—100 classes! I’m so proud of that. It’s not the type of exercise I would’ve initially chosen, but it’s become a great way for me to sweat it out and stay in shape. Plus, the sense of accomplishment after each class keeps me motivated.

I take Massimo for our long walk of the day. With the weather (finally) warming up, he gets to wear a spring bow tie and no coat- and we both get to enjoy the sunshine. It’s the perfect way for both of us to unwind and recharge before doing it all again tomorrow.    

Connect with Liz on LinkedIn here.

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