Meet Me, Maggie Klein, Founder of Moon & Magpie
Hi and thanks for visiting. I'm Maggie, a brand, messaging and PR pro living in Atlanta with my husband Matt, two sons, daughter and two rescue dogs Duke & Della.
You can call me a marketer or a biz consultant, but truthfully I’ve never felt totally comfortable with those monikers. With 15+ years of production, media, PR and branding experience, storyteller feels like a better fit.
EARLY DAYS
I grew up in Ruston, LA with a four-year stint in the Atlanta 'burbs. Whether it was coming up with a story to stay out of trouble, penning poems, or writing Toys R Us (RIP) jingles with my BFF Jennifer Whetstein, I’ve always had a way with words. And as evident my career day ensemble of choice circa 1986, I guess I’ve always been a bit of a #girlboss.
My passion for the pitch was only matched by love of all things pop culture and beauty. I still remember the first time I got my hands on a copy of my Aunt’s InStyle magazine. I was hooked.
GEAUX TIGERS
When my mom’s urging for me to continue my education overpowered my desire to become a hairstylist, I headed south to Baton Rouge and majored in Mass Communications at LSU. I left a pretty good writer and a good 15 pounds heavier. Upon graduating, I took a job in Atlanta working for a political media consultant where I fell in love with production and eventually out of love with politics, professionally anyway.
SPANX A LOT
Thrilled at the prospect of working for a female-run company and mingling with A-listers, I set my sights on a PR Coordinator role at Spanx and somehow squeezed in (pun intended – old habits die hard) and quickly became the copywriter and brand manager since those roles didn’t exist. I made friends who became family, worked closely with the best editors, producers, literary agents and photographers in the country and learned the art of brand storytelling from the best, Sara herself. The cover of Forbes, TIME 100, a feature in People, a sit down with Diane Sawyer...I experienced the highest of PR highs and had the opportunity to grow as the Sr. Director of Brand Marketing.
GOING SOLO
After 10 truly unbelievable years, I left the nest and forged my own entrepreneurial path as a communications consultant. I filed my LLC Magpie Messaging, booked my first clients and got to work quickly realizing that my purpose was helping people realize theirs.
I started to narrow my focus working primarily with female execs in transition, and while urging clients to put themselves out there, think bigger, be vulnerable and pursue their passions free from fear of failure and others’ opinions, I felt like a phony because I wasn't practicing what I was preaching.
IMPOSTER SYNDROME SURVIVOR
Even after 15 years of successfully telling others’ stories, when it came to telling mine, I found myself stuck in a forceful swirl of self-doubt and overwhelm. I had clients paying a premium to work with me and wanting more of my time, yet the voice of inner doubt kept getting louder.
I took some time to think. I went to therapy for the first time in life. I learned that asking for help is one of the bravest things you can do, and I did. I shed the mom guilt like last season's mom jeans, and I invested in my business and myself. I networked, took courses that were validating and helpful and even taught myself new skills (I'm becoming a bit of a Canva badass FYI). I took better care of myself physically and spiritually. I practiced gratitude and reconnected with a sense and source of trust knowing that when the time was right, I’d be inspired. And I was.
I figured out how to file a DBA (Doing Business As) and rebranded my business. I wanted a name that encompassed more than just messaging, represented the real me and had meaning. The moon represents the spiritual traits of femininity, wisdom and dreaming big, and Magpie is play on my name and a nod to the Magpie bird that symbolizes the power in telling your story, your way. I pushed through my fear of not being perfect, launched a website and now a blog.
NEW CHAPTER
Moon & Magpie is my business and my brand storytelling biz. It’s a way for me to connect with the people I want to serve and a way to share my point of view in hopes that it will help others.
With the help of my super-talented creative collective, I don’t build client's brands, I help them bloom. I don’t make magic, I help awaken theirs. I don’t create their stories, I find meaningful, memorable ways to help tell them.
And while I'm at it, I’m getting more comfortable with sharing my own and hope it inspires you to do the same!
