Her Story
About Marissa
Growing up, both my parents didn't go to college, and I went to lower-income schools, but what was really powerful and made my childhood what it was, was community - getting to know each other, relationships. I graduated high school in 2020 when COVID happened, and I tried to go to college, but with all the virtual things, I decided to take a different route. I got mentored by a CEO of a video agency when I was 18 and became part of a cohort with the Austin Bridge Builders Alliance, seeking out different avenues for education and mentorship. I found media to be the coolest thing because it can really make or break our society. We've migrated into a digital world, and my goal with media is to put things out there meant to inspire, inform, and entertain. Media is one way to communicate to the masses, and it's a skill set and an opportunity to give back and pour back into people. When I was 14, I started a blog called United Outcast, which was all about embracing originality. I used to write blogs about things I was going through in my teenage years to allow other people to find relief and encouragement. Life took a sharp turn for a while, but coming back to storytelling feels more like purpose. In my hardest difficulties, I knew if I was going to come back for anything, it was to tell a story, to understand humanity better, and become more relatable. Now with RGB Mile, I'm advocating for small businesses, nonprofits, and brands that are really impacting the community, helping people learn not just about a business's product or location, but how they got there, who they are, what they've struggled with, and why they do what they do. It brings us closer as a community.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Marissa
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
One thing that's been so important is having self-belief as a constant. Going where you want to go and achieving what you want to achieve is a very unique experience, and you're not always going to have people validating your ideas. You might even experience rejection - you probably, I mean, 100% will. So in those times, you really have to advocate for yourself, whether that's loudly or quietly. Find a way to combat that and always say, I had this idea for a reason. Check your intentions and make sure that you're always aligned and connected to who you are. But even before that, just check where you're at. Having skills is one thing, and having knowledge is obviously important, but the one thing that really increases your chances of longevity in terms of what you want to do is making sure that you're right before you put yourself out there. If you don't feel confident in your values and your intentions and who you are, you're not going to perform as well as expected because the world is very loud and there's a lot of noise. If you step out into a playing field with so much noise and diversity without a strong foundation, it's going to be a bit hard to sustain.
02What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say prioritizing your personal life is most important to me. Time goes by fast. I have a niece, I'm married, my parents, all that stuff, and I've always wanted to not be so soaked into work to where I can't enjoy and be present with my loved ones and the ones who've always just been a part of my life. I'm also always trying to be well-intended and just give back when we can. I think with power and money and all these sorts of things, our human design is a bit finicky, or a bit flimsy. Always being aware of our intentions and the way that we're approaching things is super important. Having a good heart and doing people right, that kind of thing.
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