Today we’d like to introduce you to Rashel Stephenson.
Hi Rashel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hi! Sure.
One of the things I’ve come to appreciate about myself over the past several years is that I’m an observer. A people-appreciator. And one thing I do, almost unconsciously, is make heroes out of everyday people.
I’ve probably always been this way, but I’ve noticed it and noted it as an actual skill throughout my career. So many of us don’t really pay attention. But I’ve learned that paying attention to people is where connection, collaboration, and community start to build.
My career has been spent in PR, content marketing, video production, and creative team management. I’ve worked in the non-profit, agency, and corporate worlds and have been generously awarded through the years, most notably with three Emmy awards for documentary filmmaking. The stories I tell are technically about fundraising or service capabilities or brand, but what I have always known is that they are really about people.
I’ve always been drawn to the idea of people being multifaceted. We don’t really get to know that many people on a deeper level, do we?
Me? I’m a creative producer, a curious problem solver, intentional, a good neighbor, empathetic, a Woo, highly adaptable, an upstander, a storyteller, a mother to twins, a laugher, a heretic investigator, a couch dancer, an Aquarius, a sister to brothers, a Buckeye, a backpacker, a drummer, and a globe collector.
I’m a lot of things. And so are you. And so is your neighbor and the woman who manages wealthy people’s money and the man who collects shopping carts at the grocery store. That’s what I love about people.
One thing that’s changed for me in the past few years is that I’ve really leaned into knowing myself, which allows me to know other people more broadly and more deeply. Building authentic relationships and opening up to the ways in which we can all connect has become increasingly more important to me.
I’m passionate about storytelling because of the people behind the stories. Stories introduce us and help us understand one another. And when we understand others, empathy and compassion build.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could all get more curious about each other? To not only find common ground, but also to view our differences as sources of enrichment and appreciation.
That’s what I want. I want to know you, the wealth manager, and the shopping cart collector. And I want to share your stories. I think that’s why I’m here.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Yes, of course there have been challenges.
Earlier this year, with great intention, I left my corporate job. I didn’t necessarily have a plan mapped out, I just knew I needed to reconnect with myself and my purpose.
The hardest thing I had to get used to was not walking through every part of my day being needed. No urgent emails asking for rush creative, no last-minute meetings to brainstorm for a client, no teammates needing to vent about unreasonable turnaround times. Instead, there was silence. It took me several months to deprogram from the required reactivity of corporate culture.
I’m good at what I do – and now I keep my focus on that. I build relationships with intention. Every client partner, associate, and production crew member has shared values: authenticity, a good sense of what community and connection are, curiosity, and integrity.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’d love to!
I started Ohello.Video to produce human-centered content that helps build awareness and influence perception. I believe storytelling should be about these seven things:
1. People. Stories are strongest when they focus on the human experience.
2. Connection. I like to make people feel heard, seen, known, and valued.
3. Simple beauty. Humans like things that are organized, simple, and beautiful.
4. Emotion. People remember stories that make them feel something.
5. Authenticity. Truth earns trust and turns everyday people into heroes.
6. Story. When well-crafted, a story can make audiences believe in its significance.
7. Nuance. Video storytelling is art. Images, audio, and words are companions coming together to make beautifully layered, memorable, and rich stories.
Right now, I’m focused on two types of stories: short, quirky, and fun personal biographies and mini-documentary features.
Art is about showing other people what you see. I see humans as heroes.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I welcome every opportunity to work with people who care about excellence and authenticity. If anyone wants to work with me, they can reach out on LinkedIn or or my website: https://www.ohello.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ohello.video/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rashelstephenson/
Image Credits
Laura Grace Sears, Mushaboom Studios
