Professional Archives - Taylor Scott Nelson

Networking in Austin: My Experience & Insights

February 15, 2025 No Comments

Navigating the Networking Scene in Austin, Texas

Networking has been a cornerstone of my professional and social life in Austin. The city is buzzing with opportunities to meet people from various industries, and over the past several months, I’ve had the chance to attend a wide range of networking events. Each one provided a unique experience, valuable connections, and insights into making a networking event successful (or not!).

Diverse Events, Unique Experiences

One of the networking events I attended was the Austin Remote Workers Meetup on July 25 at The Brewtorium. This event brought together professionals working in remote and hybrid settings, offering a great space to discuss productivity hacks, work-life balance, and career growth in a digital-first world.

General, Professional, Rotator, Texas

Taylor’s Professional Career Track

February 1, 2025 No Comments

I’ve had a very interesting roller-coaster of a career track, and wouldn’t want it any other way. I began my marketing career at a boutique automotive firm and then worked my way up to larger communications agencies. While I learned and my skills grew, I felt like there was still something missing. Passion. So I took a step back from a traditional path to find it. Through environmental education and adventures in sustainability, I found a career track I’m passionate about using my seasoned marketing skills.

The list below starts with my most recent job and goes back in sequence below:

Design Workshop, Inc.

After my experience in the waste resource management industry, I joined Design Workshop – a national landscape architecture and urban planning firm with projects across the world. In fact, Design Workshop was the same design firm who developed the initial plans for the Southwestern Medical District Urban Streetscape Master Plan legacy project for the Texas Trees Foundation – of which I was intimately familiar with that project and Design Workshop’s graphic work.

I joined the firm as a Marketing Coordinator, who’s primary responsibility was managing project proposal submissions and supporting business development for the Austin studio and Texas region.

See more about my experience here: Marketing Coordinator Role at Design Workshop

Austin Studio cross-office working session.

General, Personal Projects, Professional, Texas

Taylor-Made Socials: Bringing People Together in Austin

January 25, 2025 No Comments

Introducing Taylor-Made Socials: Bringing People Together in Austin

Creating opportunities for people to connect in person has always been a passion of mine. Back in 2022-2023, I started hosting social mixer events for the Austin Social Scene Facebook Group. These monthly gatherings quickly gained traction, with anywhere from 40 to 120+ attendees, depending on the event. I organized these mixers at some of Austin’s most popular restaurants, bars, and breweries, including ABGB, Pinthouse Brewery, Still Austin Whiskey, Little Woodrow’s, Oskar Blues, and many more. These events were a great way to build friendships, make acquaintances, and foster a sense of community. (See more here: ASS & AYP Networking Event)

Austin Social Scene Event at Still Austin Whiskey

After a couple of years of consistent event hosting monthly, I eventually experienced burnout and decided to take a break from organizing socials. However, as 2025 rolled in, I felt a renewed desire to bring people together. Instead of limiting myself to a singular Facebook group, I wanted to create a brand that could expand across multiple communities. Thus, Taylor-Made Socials was born—a monthly social mixer designed to help adults in Austin meet new people in a relaxed, fun, and welcoming environment.

General, Professional, Texas

Marketing Coordinator Role at Design Workshop

January 15, 2025 No Comments

As a Marketing Coordinator at Design Workshop, I played a vital role in supporting the Austin Studio while frequently supporting the Houston Studio. My work spanned various aspects of proposal coordination, marketing, business development, and industry research, ensuring the Texas studios made their annual goals and the firm remained competitive in securing projects across the state and the nation. My primary proposal coordination responsibilities required exceptional attention to detail, strong project management skills, and the ability to facilitate multidisciplinary teams across different locations and time zones.

Proposals & Qualifications

Proposals are a crucial part of winning new projects, and I was responsible for managing the entire process from start to finish. This included:

Leading kick-off meetings to align the team and set clear directives for proposal development.
Developing custom InDesign RFP/RFQ bid submissions for Texas, national, and international projects.
Ensuring compliance by reviewing and submitting all necessary legal documents and forms.
Coordinating deadlines to maintain efficiency and ensure high-quality deliverables.
Editing proposals for grammar, formatting, and design consistency.
Communicating with subconsultants and partners to gather required materials.
Managing content libraries for past proposals to streamline future submissions.
Providing design recommendations to enhance the visual appeal of proposals.
Tracking proposal success rates and analyzing feedback to refine content and formatting approach.

General, Professional, Rotator

Taylor Nelson: A Personal Overview Video

December 31, 2024 No Comments

In today’s fast-paced world, taking a moment to reflect on personal journeys and achievements can offer valuable insights into who we are and what drives us. I’m Taylor Nelson, and I’m excited to share a glimpse into my life, career, and interests through this personal overview.

A Snapshot of Me

Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, my journey has taken me from the vibrant city life of my hometown to the eclectic and dynamic environment of Austin, where I now call home. Alongside my supportive network and my passion for “all things green”, I’ve embraced the diverse experiences life has offered me.

General, Professional

Rebrand, Reuse, Recycle: Marketing for Reusable Products

December 10, 2024 No Comments

As awareness of environmental issues grows, so does the demand for sustainable products. More consumers are looking for ways to reduce their ecological footprint, and businesses that prioritize reusability are stepping into the spotlight. However, the success of reusable products, such as refillable containers and sustainable packaging, depends not only on their design and functionality but also on how they are marketed. Here’s how brands can craft compelling marketing strategies to promote reusable products while emphasizing their environmental and financial benefits.

1. Emphasize the Environmental Impact

One of the most compelling reasons to switch to reusable products is their positive impact on the environment. Your marketing should clearly communicate how these products help reduce waste, conserve valuable resources, and lower carbon footprints. For instance, highlight how a single reusable water bottle can replace hundreds of single-use plastic bottles over its lifetime. Use data, statistics, and visuals to illustrate these benefits—such as infographics showing the cumulative impact of using reusable items. Making these benefits easy to understand and visually appealing will help consumers grasp the real difference they can make by choosing reusable products.