Meet Gabriella Billotti: Creativity and Connection

At Sweeney, great work starts with great people. Meet Gabriella Billotti, whose creativity led her to marketing and whose approach to work starts with being someone others can count on. 

We sat down with Gabby to talk about her background, get a fresh perspective on what makes a campaign resonate, and how she stays grounded outside of work. 

Q: Tell us about your background and what drew you to marketing. 

A: I was always really creative growing up. I loved drawing, reading and writing, and I also enjoyed making things look aesthetically pleasing on social media. When I started thinking about college majors, marketing felt like a way to explore that interest. 

I studied business administration with a concentration in marketing strategy at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. In my junior year, I started as an intern and marketing assistant at a small marketing agency, Sea Level Social. I eventually moved into part-time work there, managing social media for K–12 clients. 

Q: What did managing social media for clients teach you? 

A: Even when clients are in the same industry, they need different things. We worked with large school districts and much smaller, rural school districts. The approach had to reflect each client’s audience and goals. 

It also taught me to pay attention to every detail. When you post on a client’s behalf, their audience doesn’t know it is an agency posting. You want everything you put out to represent them well. 

Q: What makes a marketing campaign resonate with you? 

I like campaigns that make people feel seen. I’m drawn to marketing that feels relatable and lets people recognize themselves in it. 

The brands that make the most sense to me are the ones that align with the people behind them. The connection makes what they’re doing feel authentic. 

Q: What would you say is your greatest strength? 

I try to be someone people can depend on and feel comfortable talking to. If I say I’m going to do something, I want people to know I’ll follow through. 

I’m drawn to the idea that if you want a village, you need to be a villager. That means showing up for people. It’s something I’m continually working on, both personally and professionally. 

Q: What drew you to Sweeney? 

When I saw the job posting, I was going through a discouraging search for a post-grad position, and I was taking a break from applying. But this felt like an opportunity that really aligned with me. It was local to Wilmington, and as I read the description, I could see myself fitting in here, so I decided to go for it. 

I’ve already learned so much. I’m excited to be somewhere I can continue to grow and develop my career. 

Q: What do you like to do outside of work? 

I grew up dancing, and I still dance in the Wilmington community. Contemporary is my favorite style, and I’ve choreographed for the Wilmington Dance Festival for the past two years. 

I also really love yoga and pilates. I always look forward to my Saturday morning yoga class every week, and I find that movement helps me process things and clear my head. 

 

Welcome Gabby!