Whether marketers are new to San Diego or just ready to expand their connections, one of the most common questions I hear is: “Where should I go to meet other marketers?”
San Diego has a surprisingly tight and welcoming business community. People in this city appreciate those who show up, get involved, and add value. Whether you’re in marketing, tech, or any of the industries that thrive here, the key is to build your network before you need your network. The best way to achieve this is by joining local organizations that bring together smart, curious, and generous professionals.
Whether you’re looking to connect, learn, or contribute, these are some of the groups I recommend keeping tabs on:
Marketing & Advertising-Specific Organizations
American Marketing Association San Diego (AMA)
The AMA San Diego chapter is one of the most established and consistent organizations for marketing professionals in the region. It offers panels, mixers, awards events, and learning opportunities that span all corners of the industry — from brand strategy and creative to analytics and media. It’s a great starting point if you’re new to town or looking to meet peers across disciplines.
The One Club for Creativity San Diego
For those in advertising or design, The One Club’s San Diego chapter is where creativity meets community. It’s home to local portfolio reviews, award showcases, and workshops that celebrate the craft side of our industry. You’ll find agency folks, freelancers, and in-house creatives all coming together here.
CreativeMornings San Diego
CreativeMornings isn’t just for marketers; it’s for anyone who thrives on ideas. The monthly breakfast series brings together the city’s creative community for short, inspiring talks that always spark new connections. It’s casual, inclusive, and a great place to start your Friday feeling inspired.
Red Door Interactive Events
At Red Door, we regularly host events designed to bring marketers and business leaders together — from thought-leadership panels to casual networking gatherings. We see these as opportunities to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and strengthen the local marketing community. You can check out our list of upcoming and past events, and I’d encourage you to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social to stay in the loop.
General Business Networks
San Diego Regional EDC
The Economic Development Corporation plays a big role in shaping the region’s business landscape. While it’s not marketing-specific, it’s a powerful place to connect with leaders across industries, and its events and reports provide valuable context for understanding San Diego’s economic drivers. If you have global ambitions, note that the World Trade Center also operates within its domain, supporting international business expansion.
Connect San Diego
Connect bridges startups and the broader business community. Its events are great for networking with founders, investors, and innovators. For marketers seeking to understand the startup ecosystem or work with early-stage companies, this is a valuable community to be part of.
Startup San Diego
Startup San Diego has become the heartbeat of the region’s entrepreneurial scene. It’s annual Startup Week and monthly events bring together builders, dreamers, and creative thinkers. Even if you’re not running a startup, this is an excellent place to meet people pushing boundaries. It’s a strong source of energy and ideas for marketers.
Cleantech San Diego
For those curious about sustainability, innovation, and energy, Cleantech San Diego connects businesses, investors, and policymakers in the clean technology sector. It’s more niche, but it shows just how broad San Diego’s innovation ecosystem really is.
Industry-Specific Communities
San Diego Sport Innovators (SDSI)
SDSI is one of the most vibrant communities in the sports and active lifestyle industry. It’s also one of the most social, built on the shared energy of founders, athletes, and brands that shape this city’s outdoor culture. If your work touches sports, wellness, or lifestyle brands, this group is worth your time.
Naturally San Diego
Naturally San Diego supports the region’s natural products community — from emerging CPG brands to retailers and investors. Their events attract marketers, founders, and product innovators alike. It’s one of those organizations where you’ll meet people who love what they do and are eager to share what they’ve learned.
San Diego Brewers Guild
The Brewers Guild is a reminder of how integral craft beer is to San Diego’s identity. If your world overlaps with food, beverage, or hospitality marketing, this is a fun and surprisingly insightful community to engage with. Their events blend industry updates with the kind of camaraderie that defines this city.
BIOCOM California
BIOCOM is the leading network for the life sciences and biotech community in California, and its San Diego roots run deep. It’s an important ecosystem for marketers supporting science-driven organizations or simply looking to understand one of the region’s powerhouse industries.
A Few Words of Advice
You can’t possibly join everything on this list, and you don’t need to. Still, it’s worth keeping tabs on the event calendars of these organizations. Many host excellent learning opportunities that go beyond networking, including workshops, leadership panels, and community discussions that support personal and professional growth.
The real key is to participate. Don’t just go to take; go to give. Whether that’s your time, your ideas, or your encouragement for others, San Diego rewards those who contribute. Contributions to the community often come back in ways you don’t expect — through collaboration, mentorship, and friendship.
We’re fortunate to live and work in a city that values creativity and connection equally. So, get out there, plug in, and add your energy to the community that makes San Diego such a great place to be a marketer.