March 2025 Bonfire Marketer of the Month: Acorns’ Lani Ha

Each month, Braze selects one individual as our Marketer of the Month in order to celebrate the exceptional work being done by members of our Braze Bonfire community. Whether it's providing support for their fellow marketers or going above and beyond by sharing their innovative ideas and strategies, these individuals are making essential contributions to their companies, their users, and the customer engagement space as a whole.

This month, we’re recognizing Lani Ha, Marketing Manager at Acorns. Acorns is a financial wellness platform that helps people save and invest for the future. We spoke to Lani about her background, how she uses Braze, and what they’re up to at Acorns. Let’s dive in.

Tell us about your background and the role you’re in now.

My background is in advertising, and if you had told me I’d end up in the email marketing space, I wouldn’t have believed you! I graduated in 2020 with a degree in Advertising from Cal State Fullerton (go Titans!) The internship I needed to graduate fell through, but a friend connected me with a Marketing Assistant role at a startup. That’s where I was introduced to Braze and became a member of the Bonfire community. Fast forward two years, and my (now) manager posted a job opening at Acorns. I jumped at the opportunity and am now a Marketing Manager at Acorns who specializes in customer lifecycle journeys, as well as a self-proclaimed Liquid Logic queen.

What is your favorite part of your job?

I love the variety and ownership I have in my role. When I first dipped my toes into email marketing, I worried it might feel limiting, but it’s been the complete opposite! From crafting strategies and creative briefs to brainstorming Braze setups and executing campaigns, every day brings something new. The dynamic nature of the work keeps me excited and engaged—it’s never monotonous, and there’s always a fresh challenge to tackle.

How long have you been using Braze?

I’ve been using Braze for over five years across two companies. At my first company, I was part of the team that transitioned to Braze from another platform, which was a huge learning opportunity. Being involved in the onboarding process gave me a deep understanding of the Braze platform’s capabilities and inspired me to dive into certifications for Canvas, Liquid Logic, and more. That foundational knowledge has been invaluable in my current role at Acorns, where I continue to push the boundaries of what Braze can do.

How do you see Braze as a career accelerant?

Braze is an incredible career accelerant because it allows you to grow in both technical and creative directions. Early on, I took advantage of Braze certifications, which empowered me to create innovative campaigns that drove significant growth and revenue for my company. While the course examples aren’t always directly applicable to every industry, they provide a solid foundation for thinking creatively about how to apply Braze features. For me, the technical side of Liquid Logic was especially exciting, so I became besties with our engineering team and experimented with dynamic personalization, which opened up endless possibilities for tailoring content to our customers. Braze has been a game-changer in my career, allowing me to take risks, innovate, and deliver results.

Tell us about a time you used Braze to do something creative.

Being both a data enthusiast and a Liquid Logic pro has been a huge advantage when it comes to creativity in Braze. One of my favorite projects involved using Liquid Logic to dynamically personalize content based on customer insights. By leveraging data, we were able to simplify campaign workflows and deliver highly tailored messages that resonated with specific customer segments. My advice? Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and test new ideas. Braze gives you the tools to innovate, but it’s up to you to take the leap and see what’s possible!

Interested in collaborating to build the future of customer engagement? Join a collective of experts to forge connections, share ideas, and accelerate your career at the Braze Bonfire Community.