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District Maven and I love diving into digital, marketing, and branding discussions wherever we go, but the vibe is extra special in Metro Detroit. If you know our boutique marketing agency, you're aware that our roots are firmly planted in Pure Michigan. Our CEO & President, Leigh Genetti Byers, hails from the Motor City suburbs, and District Maven kickstarted its journey on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor. Trust me, she's a die-hard fan. Just try to stop her once she gets started.

Naturally, Leigh was thrilled when her longtime friend, fellow Michigan alum, and Wayne State University professor, Nick Mattar of Digital Detroit LLC, invited her to be a guest speaker at one of his lectures this semester. Besides being a marketing whiz, Nick educates undergrads at the Mike Ilitch School of Business and was eager to inspire his students in a new way. And if you've met Leigh, you know that "thrilled" doesn't quite cover it.

After some prep and a flight, I found myself in downtown Detroit at Wayne State, ready to roll. Right before the lecture kicked off, it hit me: this was my very first official marketing or business class setting. Not bad for a History and American Culture major, huh?

Despite some initial nerves, I quickly found my groove once I started. My topic? A college-friendly version of a talk I've given countless times in various forms. Yet, I couldn't shake the jitters, especially when my first two millennial jokes fell flat with the Gen Z crowd. Am I sounding silly? Are my references outdated? Did I use "rizz" correctly and in the right context? So many thoughts were swirling around.

As the class wrapped up and students packed up, I usually leave my contact info on the final slide, but with my puns fresh in mind, I didn't expect much. Unexpectedly, I discovered that after almost 16 years in the field, pleasant surprises are something I still cherish.

Out of the 40 students in the room, 5 stayed back to chat. (All women, a detail I found noteworthy.) Sure, a 12.5% retention rate might not sound like a lot to some, but it meant the world to me. Not only did it show that at least one person was tuned in, but they were all sharp, charismatic, and exactly the kind of people I love to connect with, personally and professionally.