Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Alvarado.
Amanda, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I definitely always was intrigued in all things media. I mean, I used to pretend I was a radio host and news reporter.
In high school, I needed to choose electives and broadcasting sounded fun and easy, so I signed up for it, but wow. I never ever expected to fall in love with it. I did the whole broadcasting thing throughout high school and loved to write, so I started a couple of blogs. I’d make one and write like three posts and delete it, then I’d make another and delete it. They were all pretty bad, so they always ended up getting deleted.
One summer in college, I couldn’t find a summer job, so I decided to devote all my energy into starting a blog that I was proud of and it turned into this space where I shared everything from beauty tips to my day-to-day struggles to encourage women. It has become a community of totally awesome, girl boss women!
Aside from blogging, I currently work with iHeartMedia doing all things digital and creative content. In college, I did some pretty cool things – intern for The Bert Show and Adam Bomb, participated in Cox Media’s Day In The Life program, gave 110% in all my journalism classes, worked on GSUTV’s Sports Update, and even served as VP of Communications for my sorority (Alpha Omicron Pi) – all those things, as well as networking (pretty much every professor I had worked at places like CNN and ABC News, so I took advantage of that), helped me land this job right out of college.
I graduated in December and I’m already working on my “dream job,” but I’m definitely always looking for ways to improve and grow! I mean, my mom was a teen mom and my dad immigrated here from Mexico. They don’t even have high school diplomas but are two of the smartest, wisest people that I know. I am a first-generation high school and college graduate, and that definitely has come with its own set of hurdles, especially when it came to applying for college because I had zero ideas on where to start. One of the things they’ve always instilled in me is to work hard, and I took that advice and ran with it. I worked hard to get good grades in high school because I knew it would help pay for college. In college, I gave 110% percent, was super involved, interned, spoke to professors during their office hours, and networked to land that post-grad job. I’ve got so much more to accomplish in my life – I’m only 23 – and I know that the only way to get there is by working hard.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I wouldn’t be here without getting out of my comfort zone and working hard. I am the most introverted person, so it has taken me a while to learn to get out of my comfort zone. I don’t like it, but it is so necessary to grow. It is so necessary especially working in media. I hated being in front of the camera and now I do it weekly as part of a series called, The Friday Five, for my job with iHeartMedia. I was so nervous to promote my blog and share all my thoughts, but I knew that I wanted to share my little internet space.
You’ve got to get uncomfortable, take chances, work hard, and put your best foot forward. You’ll never get where you want to be without a little risk.
What should we know about your business? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
In both my job with iHeartMedia and my blog, it is all creative and digital content – video, writing, photos, social media. I absolutely love that I get to be so creative in my work. I recently created a new series called The Friday Five, which is a quick social media video recapping the five big stories in country music.
On my blog, I share beauty tips, wellness advice, what a day in my life looks like, the happiest moments, and even the worst moments. I am super vulnerable with my readers. I want to be real and honest. No life is perfect and if I can encourage just one person by showing that there are highs and lows in my life, then, I’ve done my job. I am really proud of that.
Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
My mom has always encouraged me to work hard. She is my biggest supporter and cheerleader for sure. She was 17 when she got pregnant with me and didn’t finish high school. She had plans, but when I came along, she decided to focus on being a mom. Sacrifices were made so that I could make my dreams come true. I’ve told her that any accomplishment of mine is just as much hers and it is mine.
Two ladies in media that inspire me are Linda Pattillo and Cassie Young. Linda Pattillo previously worked for ABC News and CNN and I am fortunate enough to call her a mentor. She was my professor at Georgia State and really wants to see all her students succeed. I’ve taken every single piece of advice she’s ever given me. She’s been in the business for a long time. Cassie Young is the social media director for The Bert Show. She was my supervisor when I was an intern and I learned so much from her. Also, she is all about embracing your body and body positivity, which is something I struggle hard with!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.amandadalvarado.com
- Email: amanda@amandadalvarado.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/amandadalvarado
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandadalvarado1/
- Twitter: twitter.com/amandadalvarado
Image Credit:
Amanda Alvarado
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