Catalyst Employee Spotlight: Mariya Ruseva

You can have the best data and most sophisticated tools, but it doesn’t mean anything without great people. Fortunately, at Catalyst, we have no shortage of great people. From Search Associates to Search Directors, and from Project Managers to Managing Partners, each member of the Catalyst team is committed to maximizing client business results and making Catalyst a world-class agency. Read our Employee Spotlight series to meet some of the team members responsible for making Catalyst an all-star agency partner and a great place to work.

Meet Mariya

Name: Mariya Ruseva

Title: Group Director, Search and Social

How long have you worked at Catalyst?

I have been working at Catalyst a little under a year.

How long have you worked in search/social and what type of clients have you worked on? 

Over 12 years, I have worked with clients in the tech, pharma, finance, CPG, automotive, travel, insurance, hospitality, and retail verticals.

How did you get your start in search/social?

A former colleague of mine had referred me for a role at a leading SEM/SEO agency.

What do you like most about working at Catalyst?

Catalyst has a talented team of people, immense learning opportunity and a chance to make your mark.

What has been your greatest achievement or success in search/social?

Recently, one of our clients awarded us their search and social business after having delivered outstanding results for their e-commerce business.

In your opinion, what is the most important search/social trend or change for 2019?

In search, I believe that voice search is the most important trend. In social, it’s all about stories. Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat stories continue to be on the rise. Influencer marketing is also evolving. More and more brands work with micro-influencers or influencers who have a significant following, but no celebrity status.

If you had to give one recommendation to an advertiser who wants to use search or social marketing to achieve business results, what would it be?

I feel that many advertisers underestimate the power of using search and social in tandem. They should use social media to build momentum, spark interest in the product/service and leverage search as a lower funnel marketing channel.

Share a fun fact about yourself

I have a French bulldog named Mochi. He’s got two perfect circles on his back that look exactly like Mochi.

Why Mariya Makes us Proud

“What I love most about Mariya is her persistence in looking for unique and creative ways to use search and social to solve her client’s business challenges. She is a fierce advocate for her clients when it comes to overcoming obstacles with media and technology partners, with an attitude that nothing is impossible.”– Jim Kensicki, Managing Director, Catalyst