Check Out Amanda (Mandy) Spiwak’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda (Mandy) Spiwak.

Hi Amanda (Mandy), so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My “story,” I would say, is still just beginning, but it has definitely taken some odd steps to get where I am right now. After I graduated from college in 2020, [College of Charleston in South Carolina], I was pretty dead set on moving to NYC and living my best Sex and the City fantasy. The pandemic said otherwise, and I moved back home with my parents in Bethesda, MD. As I sat contemplating what to do with my ever-so-prestigious Bachelor’s in Communications, I found myself working for a non-profit based in D.C. I lived there for about three years. It wasn’t until 2023 that I accepted the job I currently work at, called Reboot. An Arts and Culture Non-Profit that also produces movies?? I thought I was dreaming. The thing is, I always wanted to end up in the arts; I just felt like I had no concept of how to do it. My job is also fully remote, so for my last year in D.C. I was trying to decide whether to move to LA or NYC (the oldest debate). I would consider myself a big believer in trusting your gut, and what is meant for you will naturally follow. As of July 2024, I moved to Silverlake to start a new chapter. It has been a little over a year, and I think my gut was right; things started to come together in my personal and professional relationships in a really exciting way.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t know if life can ever be smooth. I’m such a planner and a control freak that I try to set myself up for success but, I think my “road” is a patient one. I wouldn’t say I got to the place I wanted to be until this year.

Career-wise and location-wise, it took a lot longer for me to be able to live in LA and work in the industry. I did not have the connections or income to sustain something like that before. But I do believe what is meant for you comes to you. This is something [producing] I always wanted and was taking baby steps towards. All the little steps that (at the time) did not seem like much but created a much bigger picture. You have to be patient to accept the right opportunity for you. You may not know when it’s coming, but you need to be able to grab it.

I feel like my bigger challenges are coming along the way. I finished a lot of my prep work to be in the right position, but I’m excited to see how I do now that I’m in the game.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I work in development and fundraising for my Arts and Culture Non-Profit, and as of recently, have joined the studio team to help with production. Basically, I specialize in relationship building and planning things. I am eager to get into production through Reboot and independently.

I am the youngest in my company, but I think that made me want to work harder. To prove that I am someone who is a leader and can be trusted. I like to have ease about me. I think work stress can get the best of everyone. I often find myself lending an ear and trying to lighten the mood when things get tense. I wanted to prove I could hang and handle the obstacles that get thrown our way.

I think what sets me apart from others is my ability to have conversations. Don’t get me wrong, I talk a lot… but I can get the other person to open up and have a genuine conversation that feels comfortable. This stems from a place of I am really curious about people, and I like to find common ground if I can. I think if you can share a laugh or make someone smile, you can leave a positive impression anywhere. It is an important skill to have when your job relies on connection to people and having them care about the work you do.

I’m really proud of everything I do with Reboot. The work we do makes me feel really incredible. The best part of working in a non-profit is being able to feel good about the outcome of your work because it is to help others.

Reboot, my company, is an arts and culture non-profit that reimagines and reinforces Jewish thought and traditions, offering an inviting mix of discovery, experience and reflection. Through Reboot Studios, our media investment and development arm, we fund and produce projects in television, film, theater, podcasts, music, publishing and beyond. We also provide a variety of educational experiences and resources connected to the arts.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
A long list of people to thank is the point (and its still growing)

My supervisors at my first job I want to thank because they really did support me in what I wanted to do. Richy and Mark even participated as my referrals while I was still working with them! It was my first job and they really helped me develop crucial skills for my current gig.

My current superiors deserve a lot of credit as well. Shane, Sara, Noam, and David are all people who are consistently trying to get me involved and help me grow. It means a lot from them that they see me as someone with so much potential and I am excited to keep working with them to see how that all plays out.

Finally all my personal relationships!!! This is the strongest community I have of trying to help each other. Whether it’s for jobs, emotional support, or acts of service like rides to the airport. The people in my life give me so much strength.

My friends here in Los Angeles have opened me up to following my passions, meeting like minded people, and exposing me to wonderful art. I feel like just being in LA you naturally make a network through friends. Where you meet someone once and you never know when they might come up and you could get them a gig (or vise-versa). They keep me ambitious and want to keep growing. They are my biggest inspirations to be successful.

Contact Info:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-spiwak-452931178/