The Power of The Assistant, Assistant Today and Talent Manager Tomorrow: Why You Should Go That Networking Coffee With No Agenda

In this episode, Bri shares her journey from business development at Groupon to becoming a talent manager for prominent content creators like Josh Richards and Riley Saurage. Her transition into this role wasn't all glamour; it involved numerous humbling moments and hard work. Starting as an assistant and eventually rising to the position of director of operations within a startup, Bri exemplifies how crucial assistants can be as a stepping stone in one's career.

She emphasizes the significance of respectful interactions and casual meetings, underscoring the sacrifices necessary to succeed in the influencer industry. Bri's innovative networking strategies are highlighted, showcasing her ability to navigate both the glitzy LA lifestyle and the demands of a challenging career.

This episode serves as a reminder not to underestimate the role of an assistant, illustrating how it can pave the way for significant career advancements.

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@brianahernandezzz

Bri's Tiktok:
@brianashernandez

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome back to Confessions of a Wannabe it Girl, the podcast helping you filter out the BS in pursuit of becoming the next it girl and girlies, we got a great episode today.

Speaker 1: 0:09

We are joined by my gal pal, brie, to dive into big world of content creators. Now we're talking mega creators. Some of these people have millions and 100Ks and she is a talent manager and she really gets what's going on in the content space. But we're diving so much into her career and how she hustled to be where she is, how she had a pivot, how she had a DM that changed her life and how she really manages the creator space, working in it, staying humble and working in this crazy beautiful LA, glitzy, glam world. So Brie gives so many great nuggets about networking and shooting your shot and taking that pivot. So let's dive in.

Speaker 1: 0:57

Welcome to Confessions of a Wannabe it Girl. I'm your host, marley Fregging, and I'm here to help you filter out all the bullshit and become the next it girl. This podcast explores the reality of what it really takes to make it out there. As it turns out, it is way less Instagrammable than I thought it was going to be. I'm still very much a work in progress, but there's simply nothing else I'd rather be doing than chasing my dreams. So let's learn from my mistakes and work together to achieve our dreams with more confidence, clarity and direction. Let's get after it All right.

Speaker 1: 1:30

Welcome back to Confessions of a Wannabe it Girl, the podcast helping you to filter out the BS in pursuit of becoming the next it Girl. And today I am joined by Brie. Brie, thank you so much for being here. Yes, I'm so excited. I am so excited. You know, I really want to like name drop what you do so right at the top, but I kind of can't explain it and we were talking for a second off mic about it. So can you tell everybody what you do?

Speaker 2: 1:56

Everything it feels like, but I'm a talent manager at Crosscheck Studios, which is a Gen Z media company. We have three focus pillars, which is talent management, brand partnerships and then also film and TV, where we focus on scripted and unscripted.

Speaker 2: 2:13

So what the fuck does your day-to-day look like? Really insane. Like I, right now I'm in like a transition period of my workflow because our team is about to be the biggest it's ever been. We've never had like a full, like 10 person team. It's always been like three to five of us or five to six of us, and so right now a lot of my day to day is working with all of my talent and just making sure that all the deliverables are getting in, doing outreach for brand partnerships and just kind of like overall trying to help them kind of with their day to day essentially.

Speaker 2: 2:47

But then I also have like the admin side of it where it is a lot of outreach. It's a lot of connecting with people on LinkedIn, taking coffees, doing dinner. So I would say like during the week I'm hardly ever home or I hardly ever cook or you're like out at events, like networking. But because we're also in this growing period at cross check, it's nice because you also get to like mentor others and like onboard them, and so it's been an overall fun experience. But what's nice is like no day is ever the same. For sure can you name drop any of the talent.

Speaker 2: 3:17

Yeah, um, I can name job. Um, my most recent signee I signed signed her in February. Her name is Riley Saraj. She's a senior ASU. I love her. Uh, we met two years ago.

Speaker 2: 3:30

Uh, she was at um another one of our clients, josh Richards. He's like our main client and co-founder, but at his 21st birthday party and we had bonded there because I had went to ASU, did the whole Greek life, and then she's at ASU, did the whole Greekreek life, and then she's at asu, did the whole greek life. But she's like an influencer and so we like bonded over that like balance of wanting to be in entertainment. And then, uh, we always had stayed in touch. And then I was good friends with one of her brothers and when I knew that I wanted to be in management full time, I was like, okay, like I need to build my roster here and I just started sending out like cold dms, cold texts, just like from networks that I built like in the last four years. And her brother was actually like you know what? Like she's looking to leave her management, Like you need to text her. He put us in a group chat and it's been history ever since, damn.

Speaker 1: 4:12

Yeah, so it kind of sounds like you're living the dream, doing the dream job.

Speaker 2: 4:15

Yeah, it took a while to live the dream as a little you know, defeating for a few years Proceed yeah, we love defeated. I literally. When I graduated at asu, I got a job immediately. I don't even know if you know this, but like I got a job immediately in sales and business development.

Speaker 1: 4:31

no, I didn't know this yeah, by the way, brie and I like know each other.

Speaker 2: 4:33

Yeah um, but through groupon at like a and like an asu career fair. And I took the job because, like when you're a senior in college, you just like want to secure the first thing, to make sure you have an income. And I secured the job and it was like the best job I ever had. Like I was on the track to management. I loved the culture there. It was like such a great company to work for.

Speaker 2: 4:54

But in the back of my head I knew that like I always wanted to be in entertainment, really obsessed with like Kris Jenner and like not because I wanted to be a Kardashian, but because I loved the way Kris Jenner just like built all these girls up and all these businesses. Like just like got her portion and then started the next big thing and like now she has like this big empire and like I love that like business facet of hers. And so I always knew, while I was just like what the hell am I doing? Like I took all the classes, I did all the internships, but like I'm still not there. And that's when, like COVID hit.

Speaker 2: 5:31

And then I was like I gotta move back to LA, I gotta like do something. So I moved back to LA and I kind of had to start, like humbly, start from the ground up, because I was like everyone has to start an assistant. Like no one's gonna hire you like as a manager, as anything, because you don't know anything, you're not. You don't like have a network, you don't have like a Rolodex of contacts, like what are you going to be doing? So, humbly, I had to start at the bottom and I was an assistant at 25 years old.

Speaker 1: 5:51

Okay, that is not enough. People talk about like the fall from grace.

Speaker 2: 5:55

It was 25 going into 26, not like a fresh 25.

Speaker 1: 5:58

Yeah, I like how we're getting super niche with that is is like nobody talks about the fact that, like you know, it's okay to start over and you're not 22 like I know we sound. You know, just so great talking about 25, my mom's probably rolling her eyes, but like it is important to acknowledge that you can restart at any point, but humbly, but didn't you send a little dm?

Speaker 2: 6:23

that changed your life. I did so, okay. So I applied for grad school when covet hit because I was like I need to occupy my time, like groupon had shut down, everyone got furloughed. I was like what is going on for my life? I applied to grad school and it was all online because of covet. So I got my master's in digital audience strategy and it was my last year. I was working on my capstone and I needed like intern hours. But it's also like a global pandemic. Who the hell is going to give me intern hours, right? So I just was on Instagram, I was on LinkedIn and at the time, content houses on TikTok were like a really big thing. Like if you weren't in a content house, you were irrelevant online.

Speaker 1: 6:57

Yeah, like you're nobody.

Speaker 2: 7:05

And I just like I can't even tell you how I connected with him, but somehow he was a connection of mine on LinkedIn and on Instagram. Again could not tell you, but he had posted and I'll tell you in a second. He had posted an IG story which is like a simple black frame with some overlay text and was like I'm looking for, um, someone to come on for a few hours during the week and help launch product and I was like very vague, but but I was like whatever, like maybe this can fulfill my hours.

Speaker 2: 7:27

And I already knew he kind of like had a hand in like the content TikTok world. So I was like this can be it. And I was like by the grace of God, I'm just gonna send a DM Like how do I apply Whatever? And so I DMed him and he was like, oh, apply here. And then it took me to like LinkedIn. I, this thing had over 400 applications. It was insane. I was like there's no way. There's no way. I'm just gonna, I guess, apply anyway.

Speaker 2: 7:52

Two months later I, two months, two months later, I get a um email that was like hey, brianna, like we loved your application, like blah, blah, like can we set up a phone call? I'm like, yeah sure, I don't. Like I say yeah, sure, and I don't hear from this guy for another three weeks. So I'm like are you like leading me on? Like I'm so confused so I just kept having to like follow up and follow up. And then like finally I had met someone else in the industry and they're like you know what this is, just how entertainment is. Like no person is gonna like follow up within that same second. Like you have to follow up, you have to stay consistent, like, even, like, just initiate all contact. And I was like, okay, so I did. And then finally we got on the phone.

Speaker 2: 8:28

Great guy, he was a talent manager for one of the sweet boys at the time when they were in their big content house. He had helped so many creators become like what they are today and he just was so well versed in that industry. We pretty much was like, okay, what is our agreement here? What are we gonna do? And I like still didn't know what this product was. I didn't know anything. What's the product? Yeah, and like I'm thinking like is it lashes? Like I've seen people sell everything off the market, but it was an energy drink company for, at the time, two best friends which they're still friends, so I won't say at the time, but best friends um, which is bryce and josh richards. They launched their energy drink and they're like we're looking for a community manager to come on and, like you know, just help us with our socials.

Speaker 2: 9:08

I was like this is perfect, this is so perfect. And I made a whole pitch deck because they had to pitch it to the guys, because the guys also had final say. I made a whole pitch deck and it was like I kind of took like content. I tested like AMB content with captions, with edits, um from photos, how we utilize other creators to like, maximize engagement, and then they like were. You did a whole test? I did a whole test because I was like you didn't have the job yet.

Speaker 2: 9:31

No, I didn't have the job yet, but I was like I need this job, like I need to do everything in my willpower to make it known that, like if they don't have me, they're fucked. So I literally did that. And then again, marley, another month passes, I hear nothing, nothing, and I'm just like feel so, let on no one's hiring again. Covid, like I don't know how I'm going to complete my hours, like insane. And then finally, uh, the guy calls me on my personal cell phone and he was like hey, like we'd love to offer you the job, like blah, blah, blah. And I'm like, okay, great. And the next week I was working out of the Sway Boy house in Bel Air and it was just so like unreal, like I couldn't even believe it. Also, keep in mind, I'm freaking 25, so I can't be like this 19 year old girl fangirling, but I'm also 25 and like soaking it all in if that makes sense right.

Speaker 1: 10:14

So how did you?

Speaker 2: 10:15

handle the balance. I think it was just like it was nice. So there was another intern um which she was like way younger than me. So I I feel like I was essentially her boss so. But I feel like that helped because I was able to like delegate tasks to her. So it kind of already, like other sway boys, viewed me in a more like managerial light, if that made sense, which was I had such an upper hand in that situation. But did you?

Speaker 1: 10:38

I I know you and I know you didn't walk in there, not walking in with some kind of energy of like.

Speaker 2: 10:43

I'm going to run this shit? No for sure. Like I went in, I introduced myself Like granted, first day I was all about like just getting to know everyone Because you're walking. What people don't have insight to and I'll share is like content creation. Influencer world was not like a job five years ago.

Speaker 1: 10:59

Like you don't go to college to be like stuff with the testing. I'm like my brain's spinning about it.

Speaker 2: 11:03

Yeah, like well, in grad school they teach you like how to like properly market, how to A-B test, like how brands even run what the fuck is an A-B test?

Speaker 2: 11:11

A-B test like meaning okay. Like, let's say, does a sepia tone image perform better than like a high contrast? It's like an edit on photo, okay, yeah. So like let's say, for example, like this, like this podcast, right, does performance gonna do better with like marley as a thumbnail, or brie as a thumbnail? It's probably gonna do better with marley's thumbnail. She's the co-host. People see them, see her weekly, right, they're more bought in. So it's like kind of those little things like very small, like fixes, gotcha, um. But walking into a content house, it's like what people don't realize is like these people have their whole teams out of their homes.

Speaker 2: 11:43

So this house, like it was like one toy boy and it was like their manager, their assistant all living there like no not living there, but like day-to-day working yeah, so like it's a huge couch but you have like no back in his team. And then you have like josh and his team and it's like insane and so like you walk in and it was nice because, like I'm meeting like also normal people on top of like the cool people, so that was always nice, but, um, it's giving that idol without the sketch parts, exactly, yeah, exactly. And so I feel like that really helped because it was like a mix of people. It wasn't like I was walking into a room full of people were like I didn't have a say or like I didn't have a seat at the table. It was very welcoming, everyone was so warm, it was so great, um, and I honestly think that's how I managed it.

Speaker 2: 12:25

But after that, like a year into that job, I got asked to be brought on full time. I was just graduating grad school and I was like hell, yeah, like I'll come on full time. Uh, we ended up, um launching an Amazon seven 11, like, um, a bunch of different grocery stores in the Midwest and it was just like an insane process to be a part of. And then Josh launched, or I think he actually had already launched. That's how I met Katie. I don't know if you know how this story is either, but Katie is one of our good friends. Katie's been on the podcast, yeah. So Katie at the time was Josh's assistant and I was working with Josh and Bryce that day on a photo shoot. Katie happened to be with Josh on set. We met, exchanged numbers. We're like well, let's get coffee, whatever we don't like talk for a while. Like it was one of those things where, like you get each other's numbers but like there's no action, right you just kind of have that.

Speaker 1: 13:11

There's no ask.

Speaker 2: 13:12

You kind of don't know what to do with yes, yeah and then, um, so a year later I remember this so clearly I was driving arizona with my grandparents for like a family vacation and katie te calls me and is like hey, like, um, I know, last time we spoke, which was the photo shoot, I did say like I do want something a little bit more permanent. I do want to be an entertainment, I do want to be part of like an agency. Um, she was, like you know, one of Josh's talent managers at the time is hiring for an assistant. Like you should definitely apply blah, blah, blah, blah. And I was like so grateful that she had called me.

Speaker 2: 13:42

But I also had to swallow my pride and be like I am already doing the job of being a community manager. I manage all social platforms and performance and analytics. I'm also overseeing like product distribution and engagement and how you know, other people are like buying into flavors, locations, like different markets. I already had my big girl job. So when someone calls me like hey, do you want to be an assistant, you're like no, the fuck, I don't want to be fucking assistant.

Speaker 2: 14:07

Like. So I was in the car. I remember I told my grandparents and my grandparents are so like old school, like my grandpa's 79, my grandma's 75. So like a lot of those types of things like they don't understand. But they were like you know what, Sometimes it's okay to work backwards in order to go forward. It's okay to work backwards in order to go forward.

Speaker 2: 14:23

And I feel like that kind of like stuck with me and my grandpa was like, by being an assistant, what do you lose? A title Like a title means nothing unless your work ethic follows. So I was like, okay, and what do I do with this information? I did my vacation, all was well, and then, top of next week, I had like I think I texted her, called Katie back. She talked me through a little bit about what the role would be. I had interviewed for it and I was like so scared because it was just like I wasn't scared about the job, I think I was scared to enter the actual world. I wanted to be in full time. It was like a full circle moment that I was like so nervous, there's so much riding on it.

Speaker 2: 14:58

Yes, Like and there's so much going on. Like in the interview I almost felt dumb because I'm like I am so overqualified, like the questions they were asking me, like, oh, tell me about a time. And I'm like, why the fuck am I here? Tell you about a time that, when I got my master's and I'm already in this industry, like what, tell you about what time? But, and so like I kind of like just play trick, mind tricks on myself and um, about a couple of weeks later so keep in mind Two months yeah, like I interviewed for a talent manager's assistant.

Speaker 2: 15:29

So like it wasn't creator-facing, it was nothing. A few weeks later I get a text and it was like, oh, like we want to bring you on to be Josh Richards' assistant and I was like what, like I didn't even interview for him too. That's weird. Like I kind of already worked with slash for him. Like, yeah, there wasn't like a bigger conversation had. But honestly, in the grand scheme of things, everything aligned and it just like worked out for the best and I've been there going on four years. This year will be four years.

Speaker 1: 15:57

Did you just know you were like I'm gonna go for it?

Speaker 2: 15:59

I, yeah, I couldn't even like going back in that time, like I couldn't even tell you like how much I had to convince myself, because it was a lot of convincing. I feel like I was very like nervous of what other people would say, like my friends or my family, like obviously I'm gonna have to take a pay cut, I'm gonna have to.

Speaker 2: 16:15

I was gonna ask yeah, like I have to like commute to now a creator's house. I've already seen how a creator's house works. There's so many people working out of a house and it's like I have to adapt to that environment. Keep in mind, I'm coming from corporate america where I was like in sales structure, you work seven to three, you get an hour lunch and here it's like you clock in and you do not clock out. Right and again it's the world I want to be in. So like I'm not opposed to the hours, but everything just aligned. I got in um, I was an assistant for about a year and a half and then my lovely boss uh, currently Chris, who you've met he I like came to him and I'm like, okay, like you know, I feel like I've done a lot of things. I've done a lot of work and I've already had like a role before being an assistant. I feel like not that like I didn't want to sound like I'm so advanced, like what am I doing here?

Speaker 2: 17:03

But, but also like I deserve the bells and whistles because my age, my experience, all the time I put in already.

Speaker 1: 17:10

You'd already put in the pudding, put in the work.

Speaker 2: 17:13

Yeah and um, you know it was hard because crosscheck was still growing at the time and still is right like.

Speaker 2: 17:20

But in those years, like we were such a fresh startup that, like, when you work at a startup, you have to have full conviction behind why you're working there. You can't just take it because of the name stamped on it and I had full conviction, one why I was staying there and I was like I just want more work, I want to be at the next level, like I feel like I need growth and he was very much understanding, created a space where, like, I can communicate my needs and within six months, I was promoted to director of operations, which is like insane because, like, that is not a title you earn overnight and with that it's like, I think him and I still didn't really know what that meant, but I just knew that title was going to give me that zhuzh of like being able to like reach out and like also help make money for the company you know, build my network, like, and I think that's the other negative connotation to this Like people see assistant in the email signature and think you're relevant, right.

Speaker 1: 18:09

And it's like so, not no. I mean, I think assistants like being somebody who has been an assistant to a celebrity and like often acts as like an assistant to a producer or associate producer, like I'm pulling all the like strings, like I know who's who. You are like the mini CEO you know what's going on more than person B, who has great title. They don't even know who half the people in the room are Exactly.

Speaker 2: 18:32

The power of the assistant is scary, so scary and like, even as an assistant, like you are in these group chats as your time goes on with the most insane people, like insane, and obviously it's all like NDA, but it's like insane of like how many group chats you're in and then you're like it goes it makes you want more Cause. It's like I'm capable of this. If I can execute this, imagine what I can do here. And so like, obviously, as my career grew and then being in director of operations, I managed the day, helped manage like the day in, day out, like of all of our talent, um, just the company. And then I assisted and covered like some of our CEO's desk, which wasn't ideal because we had lost his assistant, but it again it all worked out because what I was able to kind of get like visibility on was like how he operates the company, like how things come across his desk, how he vets things, and I think that's what really like polished me and like told myself like I was ready for management because I'm like I've seen it all, like I've done it all and I'm so ready for it and I've worked so hard to like be this like thing which is a talent manager.

Speaker 2: 19:30

But it's like, now that I'm here, it's a lot of hard work, it's super tough and a lot of it is like technically speaking, like assisting again, because you're managing all of your talents day in and day out, all the deliverables. You're chasing them around. Some of your talents on different time zones. Some of your talent, like are more, you know, hungry than others. Some of your talent and you know, has wants and needs. And or sometimes your talents like compare each other and you're like so-and-so, got this gifting, what about me? And it's like you're also raising kids, like that's also what it feels like Therapist, scheduler, assistant, literally.

Speaker 1: 20:03

It's interesting, like the conversation around being an assistant, like find me a job in the entertainment industry that even at the highest level you still don't feel like an assistant, exactly Like. I remember the day I figured that out. I asked a producer and I was like, oh, like what his job entails and I was like, oh, it just sounds like you're assisting this person and he's like and they're assisting someone else, and they're assisting someone else. It never ends.

Speaker 2: 20:27

Never. And he's like and they're assisting someone else, and they're assisting someone else. It's a domino effect. It never ends, never ends. Yeah, like, even as when I was director of operations and we were working on our comedy sketch series, it's like I have no interest in film and TV. However, like I consume it, but like that's not where I want, like I don't want my career to be in that, but like, so you coordinated a film Exactly. And then at the end, when, like, everyone was inputting credits, again I like do not care about film and TV. And then, like, you see your name in the credits and like my, my grandparents, like watching, and like wait, I saw your name in the credits and I'm like, oh, I didn't even really cool.

Speaker 1: 21:04

And then it makes you think, like I did that, like that was so fun, yeah Well, and I love what you're saying too about you know, covering the CEO's desk. I feel like kind of an element that I have just recently learned is like when you want to get somewhere, ask to be CC'd on the emails, ask to be included. Just see how the other person's operating grow from watching other people above you, or even sometimes laterally grow from watching other people above you or?

Speaker 1: 21:28

even sometimes laterally, just how they're doing things different. So you can learn, because the only the best way to learn is by seeing other people do and then doing it yourself. You're not going to learn from any other way, but I feel like you're also like kind of a boss at networking.

Speaker 2: 21:39

Yeah, I think it's like I'm a natural yapper and that has that has blessed me tenfold.

Speaker 1: 21:47

Okay so, but like the thing about networking, because you know there's a lot of entrepreneurial spirited people who listen to this Like, and even though you technically, I guess, have a not entrepreneurial job, I still feel like you very much have an entrepreneurial spirit.

Speaker 2: 21:59

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 22:00

How do you network without being icky? You can navigate this so well because you've been working with the highest of the highest and entry people. You see the ladder.

Speaker 2: 22:08

Yeah, and my boss actually, like it's always pushing me, like, do your outreach, do this, don't be afraid to grab a coffee. Like no matter their title, anytime I get an inquiry for a talent, like I've worked with brands the last six months like Clarence Revolve, like Coachella, bloom, nutrition, huge brands, anyone who emails me I treat them as if they were the CEO. I don't care what's in their title, and at the end of the inquiry I'm always like let me know if it makes sense, if we should set up coffee, because, like they're probably also wondering the same thing, I'm wondering how do they build their network right? What if where they're at, you know, isn't there forever? And so I almost feel like grabbing a coffee or networking is, it's a two way street, it's mutually beneficial, like networking is never beneficial to just one person and it's always like a what's in it for me type of thing.

Speaker 2: 22:52

And that's why, like, at the end of the emails, I'm always like let me know if it makes sense to set up coffee or hey, I would love to chat, even if it's on Zoom, Because sometimes you know, they might not always be in LA. So I feel like that has always really helped. You know, I went on two coffee dates, you know, last week, and then Fenty, one of the girls at Fenty Beauty marketing team, had reached out. My dream, yeah, reached out and was like hey, like I saw client XYZs in LA. Like, would love to, like, you know, get lunch with you guys. I like emailed, like my CEO.

Speaker 2: 23:30

And I was like oh, my God, you should come join us right, come like let's, you know, let's do the thing and we do the thing. And it was so fun and I feel like I'm still learning how to like manage certain conversations based off people's you know, inquiries and interests. But I would say, even like a scenario that's like not on email, right, it's like if it's like a text or exchanging numbers, like never be afraid to be like. Oh hey, like you know, like what do you do? I always see you around. Like you know like what do you do? I always see you around. Like you know X, y, z, but like getting that phone number and like don't be afraid to like send that text, because the worst thing that someone can do, like the worst thing, is like what? Not respond? Like boo-hoo, like every girl's been ghosted, get over it. Yeah, like also, you're like stroking their ego.

Speaker 1: 24:07

Yeah, that's so true.

Speaker 2: 24:08

You're like they're probably thinking like oh, like she wants to hang out with me, like she wants to know what I do, she wants to, like people have nothing more than to be able to talk about themselves, yeah, yeah, fuck it. So like, why wouldn't you text nothing to be lost? Yet it's something like so scary and even if it's like I don't know.

Speaker 1: 24:28

I think I've gotten in my head a bunch about thinking like oh, if you ask somebody for coffee, there has to be an ask. Or like yeah, you know, whatever, and it's like no, no you, it can just be a coffee with my newest friend whitney.

Speaker 2: 24:41

She's at purple pr? Um. We went to coffee, met for the first time in irl like a couple days ago, and there was no agenda. And like going into it, like similarly to you, I was just like, should I have an agenda? I'm like no. Like what were you never have an agenda? Like just drive, just go. Oh, my god, I think that's the title of the episode come with no agenda. Yeah, like there's, you don't have to have an agenda. Like we show up, we're at alfred's or melrose, and we literally just were like oh.

Speaker 2: 25:05

I was asking her like oh, what accounts do you manage? She's like, what type of talent do you manage? We're just talking getting to know each other, because what that does, it helps for her from a PR perspective. It helps her have my talent on her radar for things that she's working on. But then vice versa, it helps with projects that I'm working on because I know the seven beauty accounts that she runs. So when time comes, if a client needs something or whatever, like she's now in my contact list. We don't have to be best friends, but mutually beneficial, because one day we're going to cross paths and I'm going to make her life easier and she's going to make mine easier, yeah.

Speaker 1: 25:33

And then that's a few less emails you have to send. You can just text her and be like hey, I thought of someone for this Exactly. Also make your life easier with networking. Yeah, this is a shiny industry. Like we can't lie. It's so glamorous. We all think it's cool.

Speaker 2: 25:49

Yes, everybody wants to be in it. How do you not get sucked into? The grass is always greener. Oh, you know it's. It's hard. Like it, I feel like, even like my hometown friends are like, oh my gosh, like you know everyone that their hometown has that one person that like either makes it big and they're like, oh my god, like the hometown hero. I'm not the hometown hero, but like that narrative, yeah, but like we know some hometown heroes, um, but I feel like you know you have to stay humble, like, as cliche and cringe that might sound, you don't know everything.

Speaker 2: 26:19

And like even I have to tell myself that sometimes, because I'm such a control freak, I catch myself like like micromanaging myself, or like micromanaging myself, I'll micromanage, like my team, and I'm like well, like why isn't this color-coded? Or like why are we doing this? Or like I'm constantly pitching ideas and like I'm just like sometimes I go home and I realize that I'm so anxious or so like, oh my God, like worried about something, but it's because I'm always worried about the next big thing and I have yet to like enjoy the fruits of my labor, and so, like I'm still learning those things. I'm also still learning like how to like break off from my phone and not be on it, because not only do I love scrolling, my job is to scroll. I have to find talent.

Speaker 1: 26:57

I have to find brands. So let's get the question about how do you turn off your phone or ignore personal? Oh, it's hard.

Speaker 2: 27:02

It's hard. I don't even think I have the recipe for it yet because I'm really trying. I did start to put my phone on D&D starting at 10 pm every night and that's a huge step for me, even though I'm still on it, but I mean like it's still personal use.

Speaker 1: 27:14

Exactly.

Speaker 2: 27:21

Like I'm scrolling for my own doom's sake. I do find myself, though I'm starting respond in real time Because, like I'm a night owl, I'm up at 1 am, but if one of my talent's like, oh, I love this brand, like we should do something Before, I'd be like, oh, my God, yes, like we'd be ideating at 1 am and I'm like, what are we doing? Like don't need to do that. I realized that like I was exhausting myself mentally, like physically, I could go all day, like I have a huge cup, like I could do anything.

Speaker 1: 27:48

You do, but mentally.

Speaker 2: 27:49

I'm just like I realized like over the years my cup gets smaller and I think balancing all that was is really important for me and my mental health Because, like a year or so ago, I really never understood when people were like, oh, I have such bad anxiety or social anxiety I can't go out today, or like I can't do this. And I never understood that because I'm like, what do you mean? Yeah, I'm like, what do you mean? Like you don't like talking, like you don't like doing this, you don't like doing that.

Speaker 2: 28:13

And then it got to a point in my career where, like I was so maxed out on conversations or maxed out on anything that, like anytime something was getting added to my calendar, I'd be panicking. I'm like, why, like? Why do I have to talk to someone today? Why is my boss calling me? Why are my coworkers texting me? Like what is going on? And like it got to a point where I had to realize, like breathe, I took some mental mentee bee time to myself and I kind of just stepped back and I kind of like just rearranged my list of priorities and it's definitely helped. Oh, breathe.

Speaker 1: 28:49

I think you're right. When you get older, your cup gets smaller, yeah, but also your ability to do things is at a higher quality and at a higher caliber. So I think you need more time off to do things as well, as you're going to do that.

Speaker 2: 29:02

Like I love hanging out by myself. I know that sounds so weird, I'm an only child. I love hanging out by myself and like sometimes, like you know, I only have an hour from LA. But my family's like, oh, come, we're doing a barbecue. And I'm like, oh, sundays are my reset days. Granted, I'll choose the days I do go hang out, whatever. But like five years ago, like Brie would never reset, like at all. Brie would be like oh, it's Sunday, it's still the weekend. Like, let's go shopping.

Speaker 1: 29:29

Let's go do it. Well, seeing you are in such a talent manager position, I think so many people out there would like love to be assigned with somebody like you. Yeah, what do you see for the creator space Like? What do you see coming? Is it too late?

Speaker 2: 29:44

to get in the game. Oh my gosh. No, I think about this often. This is really funny, not to go off tangent, but I'm like it's crazy because I also feel like a lot of my resume too, like a lot of it, is also like creative directing. Like I love mood boarding, I love being creative and I'll just go give it to someone else and go make the story come true is like kind of what I like to do. But it's like you know, it's never too late to start.

Speaker 2: 30:10

I think about this often because I'm like I'm making all like the rich richer and I'm like these are all my ideas, like why aren't I doing this for myself? Right? Why isn't this like? Why isn't this me?

Speaker 2: 30:16

And then I'm like then I feed myself this narrative that like the society feeds of, like girls in their late twenties, like what is there to influence about? Like no one's listening to you. Everyone wants the girls fresh out of college, everyone wants the girls great, she's a marketing genius, she has like way more to offer. But it's like you get in your head because I think society has like curated this narrative that like age defines capabilities. But it's like just so, not true?

Speaker 2: 30:41

But I would say it's never too late to like start and create our economy. And then even for talent management, like even if someone wanted to be a talent manager, like you have to start at the bottom or at least it's a coordinator right, that's like a level above. You know an assistant, but you have to be willing to humble yourself and acknowledge you don't know everything, even if you've been at an agency, even if you've interned, you've been in the mail room. Like you need to have the right people in your corner and I think that's why I was so bought in at being at a startup, because I knew that I was going to get like quality face time with the ceo day in and day. And I know people at big time agencies don't get that until they're an agent.

Speaker 1: 31:14

So, and you know, I think you also have so much insight about whose quality has the potential to grow, or like you can look at it and you can see, like the for lack of a better word the it factor, like, what do you look for when you're looking to sign a new client?

Speaker 2: 31:30

Yeah, you're looking to sign a new client. Yeah, not to like be specific, but I'm very into like makeup, beauty, wellness. I love nothing more. Yeah, exactly, I love nothing more than like looking for talent. That is all things lifestyle, because I've realized for someone that like wants to be. You know, they want to find their niche in content creation and then like execute on that. One thing is not for me Because, like for me, sky's the limit and like, even with my newest client, riley, like we brainstorm all day long, like we talk all night.

Speaker 2: 32:07

She has her own clothing line and we're always like, okay, like, how do we maximize engagement here? Like, what type of designs are we appealing to? What is our demo? Are we making, you know, clothes for ages 18 to 26? And do we make it affordable? And like, you kind of have to go down through that pipeline. But I think for me, like when you know I'm out and I'm sourcing talent, because I know I'm talking about like the talent I already have, but like when I'm out and just I really like I know it's so cliche, but like I really do, um, brie loves wednesday, I do, she's my favorite. Um, it's okay misty. I really just look for personality, because, although, like yes, you want to look for the one that has like the most views and like the one we can, like help monetize, it's like you also have to work with this person day in and day out. It's like dating, yeah, like do you like them enough, do you?

Speaker 1: 32:53

do you like?

Speaker 2: 32:54

them enough. The content they're creating like does what values does it have? Does it not? It doesn't have to align with your values, but does it make sense? Can you also help this person enhance the story they're trying to tell? You really have to like ask yourself what you bring to the table, because the creators are already so vulnerable and are very open about what they bring to the table. They're creating content all day. So now you, as a manager, you have to figure out grab that story that's already out there, grab your own and does it create one narrative? Or like does it not mesh? And I think that's really important.

Speaker 2: 33:24

Like I'm like till this day, like I think I would love to have like a full roster of maybe 10, but right now I'm at like three full-time and I I like give so much credit to like the big agents, even my own boss. He's like the CEO of the company, but he's still like Josh's manager. He still manages like brie chicken fry and like he lets me help on all those like you know, those talent things. But even when I am helping, I'm like, how do you do this? How are you still running the company and then also being like a manager? Because I'm just a manager and I'm not running a company, but like I'm like losing my marbles, like, yeah, what is going on? Because again, every day someone needs something or something's not going right. You're never gonna have the perfect day, but yeah, I would love to have my roster at 10, maybe like by the end of the year, by next year we're putting it out in the universe.

Speaker 1: 34:09

Putting it out in the universe, so how do you pick up the marbles when they get all scrambled?

Speaker 2: 34:13

girl, we all fight overwhelm like yeah, you're doing a lot, sometimes like it's gonna to pick up the marbles. Sometimes you're gonna have to stay up late. Sometimes you're gonna have to sacrifice. Sometimes you're gonna have to miss out on things, whether that's like rotting on the couch and watching love island or it's, you know, missing dinner time because you got to go to a client fitting at 10 pm because all their Coachella outfits are horrible. Like. So you, like, you really love the world.

Speaker 1: 34:39

We live in.

Speaker 2: 34:40

It's just like it's crazy, but like you also have to like I think this is so important you have to love what you do. If you don't love what you do, all of these extra things of like staying up late or doing extra work that might not come on the desk to end of night, it's going to feel like a chore for you. You'll resent the client, you'll resent yourself, you'll resent your boss. And if, once you start feeling like that, like I think that should be like a, like a wake up call, like you need to fix something For you if you could go back in time and you could, you know, leave the nine to five girly life and send the DM.

Speaker 1: 35:12

Yeah, Like, how would you know you were making the right choice?

Speaker 2: 35:19

I think you just have to have full conviction behind, like what you're going after and like what you want. And I think it's also okay, like, if you don't know what you want fully, but as long as you know the trajectory, like, or get in the space.

Speaker 1: 35:32

Get in the space and you'll figure out where your niche is exactly.

Speaker 2: 35:34

I feel like that's a conversation my boss and I have often, because he's like brie I'm confused, like I feel like you're so good at creative stuff, but like you also want to manage. Like what side of the company do you want to be on? I'm like, why not both? Let me do both. And then that's when we created my role of like operations and like I was kind of like dabbling in everything, but then I found my niche was like management. But in management I'm still like helping with like the creative, but then I'm also doing the business and then I'm also doing the sales. So I feel like in management I do have it all, but I would say you have to just go for it, and the worst thing someone can do is not respond to you but you move on because someone else will.

Speaker 1: 36:06

And go to the network meeting with no agenda.

Speaker 2: 36:09

Yeah, Go to the network meeting with no agenda and no expectations. The more expectations you have and this list of to-dos and things you need to check off, like you're going to let yourself down.

Speaker 1: 36:17

That's what people can see through it. Yeah, so unreal. Yeah, bri, you are so wonderful. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us.

Speaker 2: 36:24

Yes, it was so fun. You have to tell everybody.

Speaker 1: 36:26

If you need a new co-host, you can hire arm, tell everybody where they can find you.

Speaker 2: 36:32

You can find me on socials. My Instagram, which I wish it was just like my name, but I'm not that cool is Brianna Hernandez, with three Z's at the end, and my grandpa makes a joke that it's three Z's at the end because I'm always sleepy.

Speaker 1: 36:44

Oh yeah.

Speaker 2: 36:44

So, but that's my name across all socials. You can also email me, yeah you can reach out, all right.

Speaker 1: 36:53

Thank you so much for listening to Confessions of a Wannabe it Girl. Don't forget to rate and subscribe to the show. As always, we'll see you next Tuesday.