From Faith-Based Nonprofits to Thriving Freelance Success: My Journey with the Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant School

“This was an opportunity that made the most sense moving forward so I signed up and watched my life change before my eyes.” 

I love hearing stories like Brittany Gardner’s because they truly capture the transformative power of the Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant School. Before joining, Brittany had already built an impressive resume—working in management, running social media, building websites, and launching marketing campaigns for non-profits (and her degree isn’t even in marketing!). But despite her diverse skill set, she needed a clear direction and a way to turn her talents into a sustainable business.

My UDMA School provided her with that roadmap. She’s currently a Marketing Funnel Tech Specialist and owner of Brittany Gardner Creative.

Brittany’s journey is such an inspiration, showing how a leap of faith and the right guidance can lead to something even greater than imagined. Keep reading to see how the UDMA School is more than just a course; it’s a community and a foundation for a new career path, and her story is proof that the tools and confidence you gain can change your life.

An Unexpected New Job

If you asked me what I would be doing for work before COVID, a Freelance Marketing Tech Specialist wouldn’t even be on my Bingo card. But life has a way of surprising us, doesn’t it? My journey took an unexpected turn when I found myself out of a reliable job. That’s when I enrolled in Emily Reagan’s Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant School (UDMA). Not only did UDMA School equip me with the digital marketing skills needed to set up my business, but it provided me with the confidence to start my own business. Here’s my story—and why I wholeheartedly recommend UDMA to anyone ready to dive headfirst into digital marketing.

“Each training not only showed you how to do common marketing tasks step-by-step, but Emily’s expertise and pro tips were included to help you ‘Wow!’ clients.”

Before The Pandemic: The Boston Hustle

Before COVID changed the landscape of office work, I was living my dream in Boston working for a faith-based non-profit. I had finally graduated with my degree in Comparative Religion and was looking forward to wrapping up over a decade in management at Starbucks. I moved across the country in less than six weeks to start a new job as an administrator working with college students. 

For the next two years, I would do every possible job under the sun in this role (aside from fixing a kitchen sink). A day in my life looked like updating seven social media accounts, building a new website for an upcoming conference, balancing the budget, planning events, learning Facebook Ads, and even helping with a book launch. I never did the same thing twice and I loved it. 

But the reality of working for a non-profit in an expensive city caught up with me. After two years, life took me to Boise, Idaho, after getting engaged and wanting to move closer to family. I struggled with the slower pace and found that finding a job comparable to my previous one was a LOT harder than I’d imagined. I ended up being recruited to work as an underpaid web designer for another non-profit. After a year, I parted ways and unfortunately, just in time for the country to be shut down when COVID hit. 

Discovering the Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant School

The Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant School came into my life at the perfect time. With a lot of newfound time on my hands and the economy at a standstill, I was considering going back to school for a master’s degree. As I debated between a digital marketing master’s or a teaching credential, a targeted Facebook ad pulled me into Emily’s world with the intriguing message: “Business Owners need Unicorns who can do it all!” I was intrigued.

One of the reasons I walked away from my last job was a superior telling me the exact opposite. I allowed their words to have power over my skills and abilities until I saw that ad. I signed up for the webinar, crunched the numbers, and consulted with my husband– this was an opportunity that made the most sense moving forward so I signed up and watched my life change before my eyes. 

“You don’t have to fear that you are doing this alone– you’ll have a built-in network to lean on and support you on your journey.”

What I Experienced During the Course

Going into UDMA School I never doubted that I wouldn’t have the “Skills” to be successful in digital marketing, my previous work history gave me the confidence that I would crush it there– but I needed someone with experience to point out HOW I could serve clients in their online businesses and make it sustainable.  

UDMA started in October and a small cohort of women met weekly on Zoom to go over course material, ask questions, and get hyped. Each module was well-organized, with clear objectives and actionable insights that I could implement immediately (and I did!). Each training not only showed you how to do common marketing tasks step-by-step, but Emily’s expertise and pro tips were included to help you “Wow!” clients. 

Some of my favorite things about UDMA were the implementation projects and the community. The live Q&A sessions where Emily answered questions are a huge value add. Unlike many other course creators, Emily didn’t hide behind a team of community managers—she was accessible and genuinely invested in your success.

The community of fellow students was incredibly supportive, creating a collaborative learning environment. We shared our experiences, challenges, and successes, which made the learning journey even better knowing you weren’t doing it alone. I really appreciated being able to have a community where I could find immediate answers or encouragement knowing I wasn’t alone on the journey.

The course taught topics like social media marketing, email marketing, and SEO all while you are given bite-sized tasks to complete to get your business started and ready to accept payments and onboard clients when you graduate. UDMA’s structured assignments and “Business 101” steps helped me tackle everything from setting up invoices and business banking accounts to creating solid contracts and pitching myself to business owners.

“Without the UDMA School blueprint, I would have been stuck in an endless loop of self-doubt, trying to find the ‘right way’ to do business.“

After the Course: From Learning to Earning

Before I even graduated, I was fully booked with six clients! While I was confident in my technical skills, the “business” side of freelancing had always intimidated me. Thanks to the course, I quickly surpassed my monthly revenue goals and fell in love with the freedom of being able to control when and how I work. The skills and knowledge I gained have catapulted me into a successful business, and four years later, I’ve quadrupled my starting rate.

I feel confident offering a range of digital marketing services, from website development to comprehensive marketing plans, building quiz funnels, and making tech headaches disappear. I can’t even begin to imagine what my life would be like if I didn’t invest in the Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant School 🦄

⚡️Related Podcast- Brittany Gardner’s Story: Overcoming Perfectionism and Embracing Challenges as a Freelancer #181

Listen to my Unicorns Unite Podcast episode with Brittany to learn about her UDMA School experience and how she overcame a perfectionist mindset & embraced challenges as a freelancer.

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Amazon

Why I Recommend the Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant School

Comprehensive Curriculum: UDMA school’s curriculum covers the latest in digital marketing tech and provides the tools you need to start a successful business. Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience, the course offers valuable insights and practical skills to elevate your marketing efforts.

Expert Guidance: Emily Reagan’s expertise and teaching style are unmatched. She breaks down complex concepts into easily digestible lessons, making learning enjoyable and effective. Her real-world experience adds immense value to the course content. It also helps that she is still actively working which means she is current on what’s actually working in the world of online marketing.

Supportive Community: The course’s community aspect is invaluable. The support and camaraderie among fellow students create a positive learning environment. The collaborative spirit and shared experiences enhance the overall journey. You don’t have to fear that you are doing this alone– you’ll have a built-in network to lean on and support you on your journey.

Immediate Application and Results: The skills and knowledge you gain can be applied immediately, yielding tangible results. For example, after optimizing one client’s website for SEO and revamping her social media strategy, her website traffic and client inquiries doubled. Another client saw a boost in email open rates and conversions after implementing the email marketing techniques I learned from UDMA School. Both clients hired me for additional projects and retainers.

Ideal for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners: UDMA is perfect for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and anyone looking to enhance their digital marketing skills. The course provides the knowledge and confidence needed to navigate the digital landscape and achieve your business goals. If you’re not willing to put in the work and be ready to problem solve, UDMA School might not be a great fit. 

“Unlike many other course creators, Emily didn’t hide behind a team of community managers—she was accessible and genuinely invested in your success.”

The number one reason I joined UDMA School was because I had nothing to lose.

COVID, along with moving to a new state without a job, created the perfect storm for me to take a leap and try something unconventional. I didn’t come in with grand expectations, but I did come in with the mindset that once I had the tools, I could build the business of my dreams. And UDMA School gave me those tools and the support I needed to still be in a thriving business years later.

If you’re looking to enhance your digital marketing game and build a steady source of income, I highly recommend Emily Reagan’s Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant School. Take the leap, invest in yourself, and watch yourself soar.

Connect with Brittany:

• Instagram: @brittanygardnercreative
• Website: http://brittanygardnercreative.com
• Facebook: Brittany Gardner Creative

Read Other UDMA School Student Stories:

>> Achieving Work-Life Balance and Steady Income as a Digital Marketing Assistant

>> From Corporate to Confident: How UDMA School Helped Me Build a Thriving Digital Marketing Business

>> My Journey From Employee To Full-Time Business Owner

>> Upleveling Digital Marketing Skills to Provide Premium Services to Premium Clients

>> How I Transitioned from a 9-5 Job to a Booked-Out Freelance Marketing Specialist

>> From Corporate Finance to Small Business Consultant

Not a course. A collective for marketers already doing the work.

Our Digital Marketer’s Workgroup is a vetted peer community where marketing specialists get real business support and talk shop with people who actually get it. Applications are open now ⬇️

The Takeaway: “The skills and knowledge I gained have catapulted me into a successful business, and four years later, I’ve quadrupled my starting rate.“

Brittany’s story is such a great reminder of what’s possible when you bet on yourself. She went from feeling stuck and unsure about her next career move to becoming fully booked with clients even before finishing UDMA—that’s incredible! What I love most about Brittany’s story is that UDMA School didn’t just teach her technical marketing skills; it gave her the confidence to run her own business and truly take control of her future. She embraced the full experience from learning the ins and outs of digital marketing to gaining the business skills she needed to thrive as a freelancer.

And the best part? She didn’t have to figure it out alone. With the support of our community, live Q&A sessions, and step-by-step training, she had everything she needed to hit the ground running. If you’re feeling like Brittany did—ready to invest in yourself and turn your skills into a sustainable business—the Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant School gives you the tools, support, and strategies to make that happen. You just have to take that first step!