Buzzing with inspiration: Beekeeping shapes patience and teamwork
Nature can offer profound educational experiences. Take honeybees, for example. They personify hard work, dedication and teamwork. Synovus team members Stephanie Pareja and Cole Johnson share a commonality as marketing professionals and beekeepers, who tap into the wisdom of these pollinators to enrich their personal and professional lives.
Stephanie Pareja: The curious marketer
Stephanie Pareja, digital marketing analyst, took an interest in bees when she encountered a beekeeping class while walking across George Mason University campus. “I was curious about it and had to ask questions,” she recalls with a smile. That initial spark led her to take the class and gain hands-on experience and mentorship that would shape her approach in her marketing career.
In banking, trends and client behavior must be anticipated, and Pareja sees a parallel to the hive. “Just like bees, we have to adapt swiftly,” Pareja explains. “Watching how they interact and respond to their environment taught me how to recognize patterns and ask the right questions. This mirrors what I do daily in marketing as I’m looking through client data for behavior and engagement shifts.”
While the digital marketing space can be fast-paced, patience is Pareja’s secret weapon, too. Thanks to her experiences with bees, she channels that patience and curiosity, analyzing data to help her team create marketing strategies that resonate with clients and meet their needs.
Pareja hopes to own hives one day, but until then, she volunteers by helping elementary school teachers develop apiculture curriculum, fostering a new generation of curious minds.
Cole Johnson: The honey lover
Cole Johnson is a marketing program manager with cravings for honey. “I love honey! I put it in everything – coffee, breakfast – you name it,” he chuckles. Since store-bought honey can be pricey, he decided to cultivate his own hive in his backyard in Roswell, Georgia.
Johnson quickly discovered that beekeeping isn’t just about honey. It’s a masterclass in diligence and teamwork. “Bees are the ultimate hard workers,” he says. “They stay focused on their roles despite distractions.” From the queen to the drone to worker bees – each has a purpose.
That principle resonates with Johnson as he collaborates with multiple teams on planning and executing marketing campaigns. He focuses on creating project plans, ensuring internal and external resources deliver on their objectives and track performance.
Johnson emphasizes just like a hive needs time to flourish; banking itself requires patience and trust. “You can’t rush the bees,” Johnson shares. “You have to give them time and space to create the honey.” This philosophy inspires Johnson as he leads projects, ensuring his team has the support they need to achieve their goals and thrive.
Pareja and Johnson embrace how beekeeping aligns with their values. Through patience, teamwork and a deep understanding of their environment – whether nurturing a beehive or managing relationships across their team – they continue to hone their crafts and share sweet lessons to drive success.
Read more about how Synovus team members are enabling people to reach their full potential.