What happens when personal passion meets powerful purpose?
If you ask Emily Mazreku, Director of Marketing Strategy at Breakthrough T1D and the AMA Foundation’s 2025 National Nonprofit Marketer of the Year, she might say it looks a lot like community, courage, and one very iconic Barbie doll.
Emily, who lives in Pittsburgh with her family, is no stranger to big ideas or meaningful impact. In her current role at Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), she leads awareness, community, and fundraising communications to accelerate progress toward a world without type 1 diabetes (T1D). But it’s her ability to blend personal insight with strategic vision that truly sets her apart.
Diagnosed with T1D as an adult, Emily brings more than professional expertise to her work. She brings a lived understanding of the community she serves. That perspective has helped her shape campaigns that don’t just inform, they connect. They don’t just raise awareness, they represent real people.
One standout moment? She served as the strategic communications lead on Breakthrough T1D’s global partnership with Mattel, launching the first-ever Barbie with T1D. The campaign generated more than 8 billion impressions worldwide. More importantly, it sparked conversations about visibility and inclusion that reached far beyond marketing headlines.
Emily was also a core member of the team behind Breakthrough T1D’s recent rebrand, helping evolve a 50-year-old identity into something bold, relevant, and reflective of the diverse T1D community, including herself.
“Every person I’ve met along the way truly represents my ‘why,’” Emily shared. “To have been a core part of transforming this brand into one that reflects the entire T1D community has been one of the most personal and professional honors of my life.”
Before bringing her talents to the nonprofit space, Emily spent five years with Major League Baseball and the Pittsburgh Pirates, creating digital campaigns that deepened fan loyalty and engagement. That experience gave her a sharp sense of how to connect with audiences—something she now uses to advance mission-driven work that matters.
Her recognition by the AMA Foundation celebrates everything she brings to the field: strategic clarity, authentic storytelling, and a deep understanding of how marketing can build not just awareness, but belonging.
We caught up with Emily to hear more about her work, her perspective, and what keeps her inspired.
What’s one campaign you’re especially proud of?
I’m so proud of the work we did to launch the first-ever Barbie with T1D in partnership with Mattel. From the beginning, we knew how meaningful it would be for the global T1D community… but the reach and genuine response exceeded anything we imagined. Helping the T1D community feel seen, heard, and empowered made every part worth it.
What’s a recent challenge that taught you something?
Being part of the team that led our organization through a rebrand was an incredible learning experience. Evolving a 50-year-old brand to better reflect who we are today, and the breakthroughs we’re pursuing for everyone facing type 1 diabetes, reinforced how much listening and centering your community matters. When you bring your community along, it drives meaningful change even further.
What advice would you give to other nonprofit marketers?
Keep community at the center of everything you do. In every strategy you craft, word you write, campaign you launch—ask questions, listen, and share their stories. Empathy lives at the foundation of a strong strategy.
What does being part of Pittsburgh’s marketing community mean to you?
Pittsburgh raised me—it’s where I grew up, built my career, and started my family. Pittsburgh is strong, vibrant, and full of creative, mission-minded people who care deeply about their work and their city. There is no place in the world like it, and I’m so proud to be part of our incredible marketing community here.
Want to celebrate more Pittsburgh marketers making a difference? Keep an eye out for more member spotlights coming soon.
