Fatoumata Diallo

I would say building up my network has been the most invaluable thing for me. I started going to conferences and networking events, and if there was ever something I was lacking or in need of, there were two or three people who had the resources, or a connection, or a grant proposal or writing thing I could join. Finding your tribe is so important, especially in content creation because it can be very isolating. You're basically on your own with your computer all day, and there's no break room to go talk to coworkers or take a break from it. It can also be very competitive, especially in a small city like Cincinnati where there are only five opportunities and everyone is jumping for them. That's why I like to go to conferences all over the country, to expand my network and horizons so I don't feel that competitive pressure as much. I actually met someone at a conference in New York, and we have a set meeting time on Sundays where we meet for two hours minimum to collaborate on what we're working on. She's my only coworker right now, and it's been so helpful.

I would say building up your network has been the most invaluable thing for me. I started going to conferences and networking events, and if there was ever something I was lacking or in need of, there were two or three people who had the resources, or a connection, or a grant proposal or writing thing I could join. Also, specifically in content creation, it is kind of isolating. I feel like everyone speaks to that a little bit, so you kind of have to find your tribe in ways that are not the most traditional. That also helps with networking in a sense, because then you build up your own coworkers and your own people. It can be very competitive, especially in smaller markets where there are limited opportunities, so expanding your network beyond your local area is really important. I like to go to conferences all over the country just to expand my network and horizons so I don't feel that competitive pressure as much.

The content I primarily do is local to Cincinnati, and I've found limitations to that, especially when pitching to bigger brands. They see that I'm in Cincinnati and all my content surrounds that, so I'm trying to expand and reach bigger audiences and companies. I still love my city and I live here, so that's what my content revolves around, but I'm trying to be true to that while also looking forward to expanding and looking past Cincinnati. Another challenge is that content creation can be very isolating. You're basically on your own with your computer all day, and there's no break room to go talk to coworkers. It can also be very competitive, especially in a small city like Cincinnati where if there are only five opportunities, people are jumping for them. Social media has been around forever, but the state we're in now has been changing so fast that people can't even wrap their minds around it all the time. That's why visibility and networking are so important, because it's such an unconventional career path without a clear-cut route.

Visibility and creating spaces for people are really important to me. I like to incorporate being that space where people can say, 'I want to do this thing, I see this person doing it,' and making those spaces for people. I actually started a networking event for people who are content creators or business owners on a more unconventional path, just because I think it's needed. That visibility is needed, and that networking is very important. As a Black woman, I want to show people what's out there and the possibilities that exist. I originally got into travel content because I wanted to show people, especially as a Black woman, that there's so much we should go see for ourselves. I also value using different parts of my brain and tapping into my creative abilities. Content creation forces me to use a different part of my brain than therapy work, and it hooks into my creative abilities. For the longest time, I thought I wasn't creative at all because I can't draw or play instruments, but content creation showed me that I am creative, and I like how it challenges me in a different way.