Breaking into Experiential Marketing from Product (looking for portfolio + entry-level path advice)
Hi everyone! I’m looking for guidance on transitioning into experiential marketing and would really appreciate advice from people in the industry.
My background: I’ve spent the last few years in product management at a software development firm, working on systems like inventory management, contractor scheduling, and AI-driven tools. More recently, I’ve been reassessing my career direction after some major life changes.
Through this reflection, I’ve realized I want to reconnect with my more creative, narrative-driven side of thinking and work, especially in how people experience brands, spaces, and stories.
Outside of my job, I naturally gravitate toward building stories and experiences—whether that’s curating Spotify playlists or developing an at-home cookie brand where I explored branding, sensory experience, and community-building through product and storytelling. I find myself often attending live events, and I’m now interested in shifting from experiencing them to helping curate and shape them. I’ve realized I’m most energized by live events, immersive environments, and the way brands can build community through shared physical experiences.
That reflection is what led me to experiential marketing. Long-term, I’m interested in either creative strategy or brand partnerships/global collaborations within this space.
I’ve also been actively learning through following brand creators and studying work showcased at Cannes Lions as an educational reference point for how brands build cultural impact through storytelling and experience.
Where I’m at now: early career, open to entry/junior roles, and currently figuring out how to position myself coming from product.
My questions:
- What’s the best way to break into experiential marketing from a non-traditional background?
- What should a strong portfolio include for entry-level roles in creative strategy or brand partnerships?
- Are there specific agencies, roles, or adjacent paths I should target first?
Right now my plan is to build a portfolio, but I’m still figuring out what “good” looks like in this space. I’m also actively looking to connect with people in the industry.
Any advice or direction would be really appreciated! 😄