Life & Work with Cristina Pandol

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cristina Pandol.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I came from a traditional family that, without actually mandating this, insisted that the only careers were those in law, medicine or business. I didn’t grow up realizing a career as a creative even existed, so when I went to university I studied psychology and business but enrolled in design courses as if it were a free elective or pursuit of a hobby. Turns out, I was excellent at my “hobby” courses and I took this as an indication of what I should be doing. Before graduating, I secured a junior graphic design role at GUESS? Inc. headquarters in downtown LA working for Paul Marciano in his in-house advertising department. After a year of learning as much as possible about photoshoots, printed collateral, traditional advertising, etc., I made the switch to entertainment and worked at WME recently after the William Morris Agency and Endeavor Agency merger. Coming in after a merger would be messing and stressful to most, my I saw a challenge in organizing chaos and mostly am someone who sees opportunity in change. I came in as a graphic designer at 23 and within six months was head of design and running the department. Within the industry, talent agencies give you a full view of the entertainment ecosystem, but I never realized that my proximately to Ari Emanuel would give me a crash course in preparing a company, what would later be called Endeavor, for a public offering. After almost ten years at WME/Endeavor, I did a short consulting role at Tiny Dino agency and built out the design and brand side of the agency. Now I’m in my current role as VP, Brand Creative at Westbrook Media.

What you don’t see between the lines of my journey is an overwhelming amount of confidence in myself. While I’ve faced many situations where I had not experienced or faced that specific decision before, I never doubted I could handle it. I was very vocal when I didn’t have experience in a certain field or projects, that despite that, I had full confidence that I could figure it out because I’m smart and care about doing things well. Not exactly “fake it until you make it” because I never faked it. I acknowledged any lack of expertise and immediately started reading, researching and leveraging my network so I would so be an expert in that area.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth is boring and breads mediocracy. If you haven’t faced pushback, then what you’re doing is too safe. I hope to face obstacles and challenges on a daily basis because if not, I’m not a true creative. It’s important to be bold and make people uncomfortable. What were some struggles along the way? Hmmm … how much time do you have? That’s a conversation that requires a cocktail.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I started my career as a design and will always have a soft spot for identity and brand design, however my heart lies in creative brand marketing and strategy. I solve creative problems utilizing collaborative design thinking while always keeping business and legal ramifications in mind.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I’m excellent at math and speak Spanish. It’s embarrassing that these are facts that surprise people, but our world is based in stereotypes and bias, so of course a creative cannot possibly be good at math because that doesn’t honor the left vs. right brain assumptions and because of how I look, or moreover how I don’t look, I can’t possibly be fluent in Spanish.

Contact Info:

• Email: cristinapandol@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.cristinapandol.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cristinapandol/?hl=en
• Other: https://www.westbrookinc.com/

Image Credits:
Photographer: Jeff Kolada