The String and Key Crew: Maddy Cuello
By: Madelyn Cuello
Tags: Fintech, Creative Writing, Marketing, Technology, Copywriter

As part of our ongoing employee spotlight series, we’ll be profiling colleagues who inspire us. Today, meet Maddy Cuello.

Company Role: Copywriter

Most likely to: Watch a Golden Girls marathon

Secret talent: Sensing the presence of a cat

As an inquisitive child Madelyn, better known as Maddy, spent her youth in Astoria, Queens perusing library books, which started her love of writing and words from an early age. She attended the Fashion Institute of Technology where she studied marketing, but the writing bug never left her. After several educational and professional twists and turns, she finally started writing full-time. And after a long job search looking for the right fit, she connected with the People team here at String and Key and was hired in April of 2021. A nomad in her own town, Maddy moved around the city before finally settling in Bushwick, Brooklyn, where the thriving artistic community inspires her both personally and professionally.

Let’s get to know a little more about Maddy.

What do you do, and what does your typical workday look like?

I’m a copywriter so I work on a variety of things from blogs, to social media materials, video and audio scripts and more. Every Monday we have a creative team meeting where we discuss the upcoming week as well as twice-a-week morning check-ins. In addition to discussing the projects for the week I also help conceptualize the content we put out to the public to make sure it’s informative but also digestible.

What’s your favorite part about working at String and Key?

There is a lot of room to be creative and also to grow and learn, which is great so you don’t feel stagnant. There’s also a lot of autonomy and trust but at the same time so much support and encouragement. I think it’s a beautiful mix, which is rare. Feedback is done with care which helps to boost my confidence as a writer. There’s also a lot of help from other departments to make sure you do your job right. The collaborative spirit is very important to feel like a valued member of the company.

What excites you about your job?

I’m excited to learn more about the product we are putting out and also what the future holds. As a writer or a creative person in general, you want to challenge yourself to create content that’s appreciated no matter what industry you work in. So it’s exciting to open this new chapter working in fintech.

What do you find most challenging about your role?

To make sure what I’m writing makes sense and is looked at as an educational touchpoint for the audience who consumes it. It can be difficult to write an informative piece with a creative twist, but that’s a challenge that I enjoy!

What are the values that drive you?

Collaboration, curiosity and kindness. I try not to be sensitive about my work and always strive to take constructive criticism well and put it to good use. I always remind myself it’s about the product and content at large. Having the curiosity to learn more and willing to go beyond my comfort zone where I expand my knowledge not only as a writer, but also as someone in fintech. There is a lot to learn and there’s constant innovation, so I think it’s important to be open to things you might be unfamiliar with even if they might seem intimidating. Also, just being a kind and pleasant person goes a long way.

How do you stay on top of your game?

I really admire other writers, and not necessarily just in our industry. I like to dissect what makes a person a good writer. What is it about the way they convey a message that is attractive to an audience? That’s so interesting to me because what makes good writers and writing is very subjective.

What drew you to tech and what excites you about the industry?

I had done some work for other tech companies, and I really liked the innovation and forward-thinking vibes. It really is the future and you can learn so much, especially if the company is a start-up.

What’s one thing — either industry-related or not — that you’ve learned in the last month?

I’ve been really into reading tarot cards. It sounds hippy-dippy but I really enjoy it because it makes you look inwards and have self-reflection. Plus, it’s kind of fun to make people think you might have “The Gift”.

If you could swap places with anyone at String and Key, who would it be and why?

I would love to swap places with another member of the creative team. They do brilliant work and are so talented so it would be cool to step in their shoes.

What unexpected subject could you give a one-hour presentation on with no advance prep?

I’m well versed in good TV. There is so much good writing since critics say we’re in another golden age of television. So I can definitely give an informed talk about certain TV shows from the past and present.

What keeps you busy outside of work?

I’m lucky enough to have a big circle of friends and a big family, so I spend a lot of time with them. But since I also enjoy my alone time, I definitely watch a lot of TV, as mentioned above. I also love going down YouTube rabbit holes about any random topic. Finally, I love to cook and try new recipes (FYI,I’m always looking for taste testers).

Can you list five hashtags that describe your personality?

#Curious #nativeNewYorker #LoverOfWords #CatLover #Funny

Lighting Round:

Dawn or dusk?

Dusk.

Chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate.

Facebook or Instagram?

Instagram.

Summer or winter?

Summer.

Music or audiobooks?

Music.

Interested in working at String and Key? Join us!