What happens when a rising creative strategist leaves her secure role for a dream opportunity — only to be let go just two weeks in? In this eye-opening episode of the UGC Pro Podcast, host Kelly Rocklein dives into the systemic failures of modern hiring practices in the creative industry. Discover:

• Onboarding Gone Wrong: Why the first 90 days matter far more than three weeks.

• Unpaid Test Projects & Negotiation Traps: How exploitative hiring processes waste talent and damage your brand.

• Employer Empathy & Accountability: The human cost of knee-jerk terminations and performance creative “disposability.”

• Actionable Advice for Job Seekers: Questions to ask in interviews, and why you should never feel like a failure when the system fails you.

Whether you’re a UGC creator, freelance strategist, or hiring manager, tune in to learn how to protect your livelihood, build empathy-driven workplaces, and redefine success in 2025. Hit follow, leave a review, and join the UGC Pro community to keep your creative career bulletproof.

As a sign of gratitude, I want to give you 35% off UGC Pro resources. Use code “FLASH35” for 35% off our three video courses:

· UGC University 🎓 https://go.ugc.pro/offers/6UKA46zT/checkout

· Creative Strategy 🤓 https://go.ugc.pro/offers/oAbc82jW/checkout

· Creative Strategy x Paid Media Master Class ✨ https://go.ugc.pro/offers/B9awpTFf/checkout

And join the UGC Pro Community and receive 35% off for life 🫶 https://go.ugc.pro/offers/doPLyYei/checkout?coupon_code=MEMBER35

Other cool initiatives in the works...

👉 Get added to the UGC Pro x Motion Roster here: https://tally.so/r/wgd9e1

👉 Creator Confidential tickets (Event, VIP, and Virtual): https://stan.store/CreatorConfidential (use code Kelly25 at checkout) 😱

Did you know that we're on other social platforms? Follow us on...

✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ugc.pro/

✨ Twitter: https://x.com/UGCpro_

✨ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellyandshane?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

In this Part 1 or 2 episode of the UGC Pro Podcast, Kelly and Shane unpack how AI is transforming UGC, creative strategy, and infinite message testing—without replacing the human spark.

🎯 You’ll learn:

• How AI is best used to support, not replace, UGC creators

• What’s working now in performance marketing with hybrid content strategies

• Why authenticity still sells—even in the age of AI

• Real-world examples of tools and workflows that actually increase output and ROI

• What brands are getting wrong (and right) with AI-powered ad strategies

• How to test infinite messages while protecting your brand’s voice

This episode is the uncut breakdown of Kelly’s keynote from Motion’s Make Ads That Convert conference, where 12,000+ marketers tuned in to explore the intersection of AI and performance creative.

🔁 Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll dive into legal and ethical considerations of AI use—and break down the best tools for performance teams.

🚨 Subscribe now, and make sure you’re following UGC Pro across platforms for more expert insights.

As a sign of gratitude, I want to give you 35% off UGC Pro resources. Use code “FLASH35” for 35% off our three video courses:

· UGC University 🎓 https://go.ugc.pro/offers/6UKA46zT/checkout

· Creative Strategy 🤓 https://go.ugc.pro/offers/oAbc82jW/checkout

· Creative Strategy x Paid Media Master Class ✨ https://go.ugc.pro/offers/B9awpTFf/checkout

And join the UGC Pro Community and receive 35% off for life 🫶 https://go.ugc.pro/offers/doPLyYei/checkout?coupon_code=MEMBER35

Other cool initiatives in the works...

👉 Get added to the UGC Pro x Motion Roster here: https://tally.so/r/wgd9e1

👉 Creator Confidential tickets (Event, VIP, and Virtual): https://stan.store/CreatorConfidential (use code Kelly25 at checkout) 😱

Did you know that we're on other social platforms? Follow us on...

✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ugc.pro/

✨ Twitter: https://x.com/UGCpro_

✨ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellyandshane?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Ever wonder what a creative strategist actually does in week one? In this deep-dive episode, Kelly shares her unfiltered experience onboarding two clients, walking through real SOWs, team dynamics, pivots, and tips to set yourself up for long-term success in performance creative.

⏱️ Topics Discussed in Chronological Order:

• Welcome to UGC Pro + who this episode is for
• The difference between Client A vs. Client B roles
• Scope of Work breakdown: creative strategy, team leadership & production
• Why strategy is worth $100+/hr
• The real first-week onboarding (meetings, tools, chaos)
• What founders actually expect from you early on
• The 90-day learning curve (and how to protect yourself)
• How to create strategic wins without burning out
• What to track, audit, and automate as a strategist

As a THANK YOU for supporting the UGC Pro Podcast, use code “PODCAST40” for 40% off our three video courses:

· UGC University 🎓 https://go.ugc.pro/offers/6UKA46zT/checkout

· Creative Strategy 🤓 https://go.ugc.pro/offers/oAbc82jW/checkout

· Creative Strategy x Paid Media Master Class ✨ https://go.ugc.pro/offers/B9awpTFf/checkout

And join the UGC Pro Community and receive 40% off for life 🫶 https://go.ugc.pro/offers/doPLyYei?coupon_code=PODCAST40

Some other exciting things to check out... 👀

👉 Get added to the UGC Pro x Motion Roster here: https://tally.so/r/wgd9e1

👉 Creator Confidential tickets (Event, VIP, and Virtual): https://stan.store/CreatorConfidential (use code Kelly25 at checkout) 😱

👉 https://motionapp.com/make-ads-that-convert?utm_source=kelly-rocklein&utm_medium=social&utm_content=make-ads-that-convert-2025

Did you know that we're on other social platforms? Follow us on...

✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ugc.pro/

✨ Twitter: https://x.com/UGCpro_

✨ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kellyandshane?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Creative strategy, UGC creator, fractional strategist, brand onboarding, freelance strategist, ad creative roles, SOW walkthrough, agency life, performance creative, strategy vs. execution, marketing consultant, onboarding best practices, creative strategist podcast, Kelly Rocklein, UGC Pro

Welcome to UGC Pro, the podcast where creative strategy, UGC innovation, and freelancing success collide. Hosted by Kelly Rocklein—a self-taught creative marketer with over a decade of experience on both the brand and creator side—this show is here to help you unlock your full potential. Whether you’re here to sharpen your ad game or gain fresh insights to elevate your creative freelance business, you’re in the right place.