Where I Add Value — and Where I Still Need Work

Jaselle Madelo-Casongsong
Apr 2
4 min read

Updated: Apr 3

For a long time, I thought adding value meant doing more.

More outputs. More research. More effort.

If I was busy, I assumed I was contributing.

But during the B2B Marketing Seminar, one idea stood out to me — not directly stated, but consistently implied:

Value isn’t about how much you do. It’s about how clearly you can solve a problem and prove it.

That realization forced me to pause and ask myself something more uncomfortable:

Where do I actually add value right now — and where am I still lacking?

What the Speaker Shared

Pranoy Kamra explained that B2B marketing is fundamentally different from B2C. It’s slower, more deliberate, and heavily driven by ROI, trust, and proof. Decisions are made by multiple stakeholders, and success depends on how well you can demonstrate results through case studies, data, and consistent communication.

More importantly, he emphasized how this translates into real-world expectations:

Companies don’t hire based on potential alone — they hire based on perceived value
You need to show what you can do, not just say it
And in both marketing and careers, success comes from positioning, not just effort

This directly challenged how I’ve been approaching my own growth.

Where I Currently Add Value

Reflecting on my experience, I realized that I already bring value in ways I previously overlooked.

Creative execution and content production
Through my work in email marketing, social media, and campaign assets, I can translate ideas into tangible outputs that align with a brand’s voice and objectives.

Photo: A B2B marketing project; a shoe show display I designed and organized for Naot Canada.

Adaptability and self-learning
Being self-taught in many areas has helped me stay flexible and resourceful. I can quickly learn tools, platforms, and trends — especially in digital marketing.

This takes me back to the beginning of 2025, when I was tasked with completely rebranding one of our best-selling stores in Toronto. I had no prior experience in retail remodeling or physical space design, yet I was able to execute the project from concept to completion. This experience highlighted my ability to adapt quickly in unfamiliar situations—learning what I needed in real time, making informed decisions, and translating a brand vision into a tangible customer experience.

Photo: My rebranded store front project for our Leslie Store.

Strategic curiosity
I don’t just want to execute — I want to understand why. This curiosity also showed up in how I approached Shopify management. Without formal training, I consistently sought out tutorials, documentation, and best practices to better understand how the platform works beyond surface-level use. What started as self-initiated learning eventually led to me being entrusted with a larger responsibility — implementing the rollout of Shopify POS integration across all six of our stores nationwide. This experience reinforced that my curiosity is not passive; it translates into initiative, deeper understanding, and the ability to take on more strategic, system-level responsibilities that impact operations and customer experience.

Photo: A userguide that I made after implementing the new POS system to our stores. This 12-chapter guide was made with no use of AI and with comprehensive step-by-step tutorial of how to ring up a sale, to ordering new stock.

These strengths align with what the speaker mentioned about marketing roles — especially in B2B — requiring not just execution, but an understanding of the bigger picture.

Where I Am Lacking

At the same time, this reflection made it clear that my biggest gaps are not in doing — but in demonstrating and positioning.

Showing outcomes instead of outputs
I tend to showcase outputs rather than outcomes. In a B2B context, this limits how my work is perceived, as value is defined by measurable impact, not just execution. For instance, when I branded our company van, I highlighted the visual design in my portfolio but overlooked key performance indicators—such as QR code traffic and engagement. As a result, the work demonstrated creativity, but not its contribution to business results.

Photo: A branded van project for Naot Canada, accomplished in 2024.

Value communication
I don’t always clearly articulate how my work solves a business problem. As the speaker emphasized, companies need to see your value quickly.
Proactive problem-solving
I tend to wait for direction instead of bringing forward insights or recommendations — something the speaker highlighted as critical in both client work and interviews. This hesitation often comes from a fear of making significant mistakes and facing their consequences. It’s a mindset shaped by past work environments back home where errors were met with heavy criticism rather than learning. Recognizing this has helped me understand that moving forward, growth will require me to become more comfortable with taking initiative, even when there is uncertainty.
Intentional networking
While I connect with people, I don’t always approach conversations with a clear purpose or value exchange.

These gaps made me realize that I’ve been operating more like a contributor — rather than someone who actively drives results.

How This Will Impact My Career Path

This reflection is changing how I approach both my portfolio and my career strategy.

Instead of focusing on doing more, I will focus on making my value visible and measurable.

Here’s how I will apply this:

Reframing my portfolio using a strategic structure
(Objective → Insight → Strategy → Execution → Performance Signals → Learning)
→ This ensures I show why something was done and what impact it had.
Adding performance signals to my work
→ Even if full data isn’t available, I will include:
- Expected outcomes
- Engagement indicators
- Strategic reasoning behind decisions
Bringing value into networking conversations
→ Instead of asking general questions, I will:
- Share observations about their brand or industry
- Suggest ideas or improvements
- Approach conversations with a clear purpose
Shifting from reactive to proactive thinking
→ I will practice identifying problems and proposing solutions — even in academic work

This directly reflects the speaker’s advice:

“Don’t ask for a job — show what you can do for their clients.”

Final Reflection

Understanding where I add value — and where I don’t — is uncomfortable, but necessary.

It made me realize that I’m not starting from zero. I already have the foundation. What’s missing is how I translate that into impact.

If B2B marketing is about building trust through proof, then building a career works the same way.

Moving forward, my goal is not just to create good work — but to make its value undeniable.

Hero image from unsplash.com