DG+ is proud to welcome our first project manager, Musa Islam, to the team. Musa comes to us with a background in marketing project management across several industries, from healthcare to tech to agencies. She brings deep project management expertise, a passion for forging connections with colleagues, and the goal of finding valuable meaning in her work. Learn more about her journey to joining DG+ and what makes her tick below. 

Tell us a bit about yourself

I was born and raised in New York City and lived there up until 2016 before moving to the metro Detroit area where I’ve been based since. My educational background is a little outside of the norm for a marketing professional: earning a bachelor’s degree in biological science with a minor in psychology, I initially pursued a path toward becoming a physician assistant. A few months into starting at the top PA program in Michigan, I felt a pull toward more creative, collaborative work. I wanted the opportunity to expand my skillset beyond a single discipline, while remaining aligned with my personal and professional goal of helping others and giving back to the community.

I was always interested in marketing, as I freelanced as a digital marketer and graphic designer for local businesses in both New York City and metro Detroit as a hobby and side hustle, and this became the bridge into my career in marketing. I transitioned from direct patient care into healthcare marketing, where I was exposed to an entirely new side of the industry. I enjoyed working with creative teams to develop campaigns that drove patient engagement and helped practices connect meaningfully with their communities.

From there, I moved into marketing roles within B2B SaaS companies, where I continued to expand my experience managing campaigns and working cross-functionally with creative, product, and revenue teams.

Where did your interest in the environment and climate tech come from?

I would say I've always been really in tune with environmental conditions and issues. I spent a lot of my childhood fishing with my dad, where I was exposed to pollution on the beach, or injured fish and seagulls from junk in the water. It left a lasting impression on me at a young age and sparked a fire in me to take care of our earth. I’m a huge animal lover, and I’ve always felt a strong sense of responsibility toward protecting them and the environments they depend on.

I’ve also always been interested in earth and natural sciences, and that interest carried into my academic background in biology. Growing up in NYC, everything was always grayscale and I was very cognizant of pollution. I’ve always been very passionate about being able to make a difference towards that.

Why did you choose to work in climate tech?

I really enjoy that renewable energy and climate solutions are tangible and actionable. We know what we need to do to address climate change, and the work directly contributes to lowering emissions and building a more sustainable future. 

I also really enjoy collaborating with individuals and teams who share a similar mindset and genuine commitment to addressing climate change and sustainability. We’re all aligned around a common goal and doing work that benefits the environment and communities. The shared purpose makes collaboration more impactful and meaningful, and it makes me feel even more motivated to create great work and changes together.

Why did you choose to work with DG+?

I was drawn to DG+ because of the company’s mission to create marketing that is both creative and purpose-driven. I’ve always valued creativity as someone who has a close relationship with both traditional and digital art since I was young, and as someone who has collaborated with extremely talented writers and designers in past roles. I admire the way DG+ applies creativity toward meaningful work and I am proud to be a part of that.

What do you hope to accomplish by joining DG+?

First and foremost, my goal is to lead and support teams, to give the team what they need in order to do their job. Previous colleagues have called me the “train conductor” or the “cat herder” because I keep complex projects on track while helping teams collaborate smoothly. 

I want to provide the organization, structure, and processes that marketers, writers, designers, and developers need so they can have the space to create, work on deliverables, and focus on what matters most without being bogged down by miscellaneous tasks. 

I also hope to roll out processes that are going to make workflows and campaign execution much more efficient and seamless. Optimizing how projects move through the pipeline from concept to launch not only improves client deliverables, but also enhances the overall work environment, making it easier for the team to collaborate, innovate, and create high-quality work consistently. 

Where in the world would you want to travel to next?

I would love to go to Switzerland because the pictures I’ve seen since childhood — particularly of the lush greenery and mountains — are breathtaking. I’d also want to go to Lebanon: It’s the perfect combination of mountains and water.

What’s your favorite way to spend a day off?

I love to start my day with something active, such as going to the gym or Pilates, and follow up by indulging in some caffeine (only occasionally!) I have so many hobbies to choose from, so I like to partake in some combination of art, baking, video or board games, or taking a long walk outside while listening to a good podcast. 

This might not count as time off, but as a side project I’m working with an indie game development team to help project manage and market a video game. That’s been a really fun adventure over the recent years and we’re excited to finish the development stage soon.

Every day, regardless of if I’m working or not, also involves spending time with my two cats, Raya and Luca.

Tell us something fun or unexpected about yourself.

At one point in Covid I had 22 cats! My dad and I built a cat house for them and we were like the neighborhood cat shelter. That was a fun, crazy, and very memorable adventure — and brought a whole new meaning to being a “cat herder.” 

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