About Me

Hello, my name is Rachel Mante Leung. I am an experienced product and marketing professional that helps organizations thrive and customers smile. I have an extensive background in product strategy, strategic marketing, demand generation, and content marketing. I approach my work with a customer-first mentality. I look forward to challenges and do not shy away from the unknown. I can think big picture and roll up my sleeves-at the same time.  My passion is to deliver the right product and content to the right person at the right time to drive results.

If you like what you are reading, I invite you to read my life to career journey below, but I do warn you that it starts at age 7.

My Story

Everyone has a story. This one is mine. 

Born and raised in suburbs of Chicago, I first learned the art of marketing at the age of 7. In 1988, I won my school's N.W.S.C Reflections Art Contest; check out this award-winning masterpiece!  I remember sitting at the dining room table with my working mother who drove 2 hours each way to work; she taught me that presentation was important and stayed up to help me with finishing touches. Although my art could speak for myself, I wanted to give it a voice using a detailed letter; I also decided to add a white fabric, cardboard-backed border which helped it stand out against the competition. I am convinced that this approach helped me secure the win. Over 25 years later, I still have this drawing and winning ribbon hanging on my wall-now with cherry wood frame.

I learned how to work hard from my parents. At 8, I got my first job - delivering take-out menus door-to-door for the restaurant that my older sister worked at. I did a babysitting stint and ran errands for people at the going rate of $1-$3/hour. Once I was 14, I was old enough to get my worker's permit; I started off in finance-tracking stock trends and printing on old perforated computer paper. I doubled up and worked in retail just in time for holiday shopping; I will never look at Old Navy fleece the same way! I also worked in food service and real estate before leaving high school. 

When I got to college-Loyola University Chicago, I always held a job or two, in addition to my full course load. I worked in Loyola's library, housing office, and Law School office- and had marketing internships at Krex, Inc and Coca-Cola.

The company started rolling out their Coke Campus Manager program to various campuses throughout the US and I was the first manager selected at Loyola. They flew all of the managers down to the Atlanta headquarters for orientation. We toured the flavors across the world, networked with our peers, and met and listened to various leaders of the Coca-Cola empire. I left with this love of Coke products that I never knew I had. To this day, when I ask for a Coke, I still cringe when people ask if Pepsi is okay. No, it's not okay!

During college, it wasn't all school and work; I had a lot of fun too. I was heavily involved in diversity inclusion and community clubs. I worked closely with the Student Life Department and was the Co-President of Council of Pan Asian Americans (COPAA), which was the umbrella organization for all the Asian organizations at Loyola. Prior to my presidency, I was the Treasurer and Public Relations Officer and organized a weekend retreat conference for Midwest Asian American Student Union (MAASU).

With all of this on my plate, I managed to leave Loyola with a double major in Marketing and International Business, a pretty good GPA, and a real resume; I even studied a summer semester abroad in Italy and graduated a semester early!

Now knocking on Corporate America's door, I didn't know what to expect when or even if they would open. But eventually they did. I started my full-time career at Computer Information Systems, Inc. (CIS); they develop and provide hardware, software and services for Police Departments, Fire Departments, Jails, etc. As the Executive Marketing and Sales Coordinator, I managed the trade show schedule -50-60 conferences a year, website updates, newsletters, product collateral, cold calling, lead software, and the RFP responses.

However, I knew  I had to follow my passion of marketing at a large, international company which ended up being Canon USA in 2008. I learned quickly how to work within matrix organizations and with cross-functional teams. I was amazed that there were documented processes for everything. During my time, I managed the largest software portfolio on the B2B side; $40,000,000 was reliant on my marketing skills. I implemented sales enablement programs, created vertical marketing content, and presented every other week to customers, sales, and internal executives - what a way gain public speaking skills. But after a little over 2 years, I had to move on as I was doing my mother's 2-hour reverse commute via public transportation!

In 2010, I found my way to Wolters Kluwer; they help professionals worldwide make important decisions using solutions, content, and productivity tools. I stayed there there for 8 years, held 3 different marketing roles for both B2B and B2C, and managed hundreds of products-software, services, and content within the healthcare portfolio. Because of my tenure there, I feel well versed in all facets of marketing - strategic planning, content marketing, lead generation, nurture programs, as well as key tactics like email, paid search, social media, events, promotions, landing pages, and more.

After 8 years, I transitioned over to Moody’s which provides credit ratings, research, and tools to global financial investors - a complete leap from healthcare. I was motivated to truly try something new and that is exactly what I got. I work in product strategy on key features such as search, mobile experience, and CMS. But I couldn’t let my marketing roots go to waste and produce videos, podcasts, and infographics to support thought leadership and strategic marketing initiatives.

As a result, I have become a better customer advocate because of the culmination of my experience through my education, extended career, and personal journey. I feel so grateful for the opportunities that I have been afforded. And I am motivated by the future of product and marketing and excited to see what comes next. 

This is not everything I am; this is just me on screen.

Thank you for reading!