Her Story
About Olivia
Olivia Konteatis is a performing arts professional with at least eight years of experience. She studied musical theater at NYU School of the Arts and has a background in performance, including childhood performances at Carnegie Hall with her mother, a harpist and singer from Ireland. Konteatis is a member of Actors Equity Association. She worked for six years at the Anne Frank Center USA as an actor in educational productions that toured the country, including a show pairing Anne Frank with Martin Luther King. During that time, she co-founded a women-led theater company, where she has grown her skills as a leader, director, and producer. Konteatis currently holds a full-time corporate role while seeking full-time opportunities in theater and the arts, and she continues to perform concerts with her mother under their group. She attributes her success to being a dedicated hard worker who gives 110 percent to projects she believes in, as well as the importance of human connections and relationships. Konteatis is also a writer working on poetry and a novel, and she supports causes through her theater work, such as suicide prevention awareness.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Olivia
01What do you attribute your success to?
It's two-fold. One is being an incredibly hard worker. Everywhere I've gone, I've been one of the most dedicated, one of the hardest workers. I pride myself on my commitment. When I go into something, especially if I believe in what we're doing, you're going to get 110% from me. But also it's connections and people. Human relationships are more important than ever, especially with AI entering the sphere.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Trust your own instincts. If you feel there's an area or field you want to go into, trust your instincts and go with it. There is no such thing as a sure thing anymore. Continue to work hard. Don't let the fear overtake you from reaching out to people and making connections. Value human connection, work really hard, and don't be afraid to go after the things that you want.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is paired with the biggest opportunity: finding consistency in work. Organizations are fleeting with budgets and grants, so there's no safe or consistent thing. But this forces you to expand your skill set and dig deep into what you're capable of, creating opportunity to grow new strengths. I'm a big supporter of being a multi-hyphenate, as it's a great strength to pivot when needed.
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