Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabella Finestone.
Hi Isabella, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Bella, and I am originally from South Africa. I am an American Advertising Federation award-winning digital content creator and creative strategist passionate about people, branding, and crafting compelling stories.
I moved to LA in 2021 to pursue my Bachelor of Fine Art degree in Advertising through the Academy of Art University. I grew up loving stories. Whether they were told in a personal capacity, read in a book, or heard in a song. And I very quickly learned that my passion lay in the creative world of narrative, and so I began taking steps toward pursuing a creative career centered on storytelling.
During the pandemic, I discovered my love for social media as a branding and marketing tool, and I decided to obtain a Higher Certificate in Digital Content Creation through the Red and Yellow Creative School of Business in Cape Town, South Africa. It was here that my path in Advertising became the clear choice. I discovered that the advertising world provided the perfect mesh of creative thinking and strategic implementation that I love so much. In advertising, we look at problems from multiple perspectives and get to “throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks,” and this unpredictability is what makes it so exciting. By being in this industry, I hope to help artists and brands tell their stories in a way that is engaging and meaningful to them.
To me, everything in life comes down to storytelling. It’s what connect us, and learning to tell stories is what I hope to always do.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not always been a smooth road. Moving to the States was definitely a challenge for me. I am a family person, and I am extremely far away from my family in South Africa, but I know that they are so proud of me for pursuing this journey in the creative hub, LA. In 2022, my mother became gravely ill. Her illness deeply affected me and made me feel extremely demotivated at times. With my focus on storytelling, sickness in the family became an obstacle to expression because by vocalizing my family story – it became more tangible and real, and initially, I wasn’t ready to face it. This was a big learning curve for me. I discovered that it was okay to take the time to tell a story when it feels like the right moment to do so. Not everything needs to be immediate, and taking care of things in the long run is more important.
Applying this to the broader sense, I began to enhance my efforts to focus on authenticity and readiness, and I carry that with me today in all the stories I craft. Understanding a person’s history, values and interests is important if you want to help them create a brand or advertising campaign reflective of them. In order to best serve my clients, I need to focus on understanding them best.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Right now, I am finishing up my BFA. But the dream is to work in social media and branding. I am passionate about content creation, which helps brands and individuals effectively communicate with their target audiences by fostering meaningful online interactions. I believe that leveraging the digital space makes it more accessible for communities to interact with each other and with the people and brands they love and that makes me really happy. Gen Z has been using social media in such a fun and creative way, and I love seeing the interns at big media and production groups run their socials and seeing the success translate for these brands. I hope to be involved in creative strategy and output in the future as I believe that my skillset aligns with both of these aspects. I specialize in digital content creation and creative strategy with my expertise ranging from oratory, social media, creative strategy to brand strategy. I am well-trained in Adobe software, but I believe what really sets me apart is my ability to see people. I want to be known for crafting stories that speak to rather than at people.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was always considered an extrovert; my parents called me a social butterfly, and I thrived on working in groups. I grew up loving all things creative. This translated into me actively seeking out opportunities in the artistic world. I was a part of my school drama club, public speaking club, and debate team. I did many musicals throughout my teen years and completed the Trinity College of London performance art exams. I always had a passion for connecting with others, especially when it came to expressing and sharing creative ideas and stories. In fact, in first grade, I was part of a project that published short stories by children in South Africa, and the about section I had written for my story about myself said, “Bella loves drama, fashion, and playing with her friends.” I always had a full extracurricular schedule, and I believe this helped shape me into an individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment surrounded by other creatives who I love to bounce off of.
Contact Info:
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/isabellafinestone/
