Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexa Spivey.
Hi Alexa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up in a small town in North Carolina with a population of around 800 people and just one stoplight. After my parents’ divorce, I moved around a lot before attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where I earned a degree in Women’s and Gender Studies. My time at UNC was transformative and really opened my eyes to the lived experiences of people whose backgrounds are very different from mine. Those classes reshaped my worldview and redefined my mission in life.
After college, I spent a year in New York City before moving to Los Angeles in 2016, inspired by an ex-boyfriend. Over the past eight years, I’ve worked a variety of jobs—including makeup artist, barista, private jet flight attendant, and manager—but the common thread through it all has been my passion for social media. I’ve been creating content since I was 15, filming makeup tutorials and experimenting with digital storytelling.
Last year, after quitting my job and feeling pretty lost, my sister invited me to help manage her social media partnerships. What started as a part-time role has evolved into a full-time collaboration. I now plan, film, edit, and produce content for her brand partnerships. Additionally in March of this year, we launched our Substack newsletter and podcast, *Seester Seester*. We use our platform to talk about the topics we’re most passionate about, like politics, legislation, voting, equality, humor, family, travel, food, film, and more.
What makes our brand unique is the strength of our bond and the fact that we’re nine years apart. This age gap allows us to offer different but complementary perspectives that resonate across generations. With our shared commitment to authenticity and creativity, I’m excited to see where this venture takes us next.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been. As I mentioned, for 6 of the 8 years I’ve lived in LA, I worked a variety of jobs that just weren’t fulfilling, and quite honestly, sucked the life out of me. I struggled with burnout and felt stuck in roles that didn’t align with my passions. The work-life balance culture in this country is brutal. With low wages, limited PTO, and little flexibility, I often found myself living paycheck to paycheck and rarely being able to travel back home for holidays or important family moments.
When I finally decided to leave the corporate grind and pursue my passion for creativity, it meant taking a huge risk. I had no steady income and no clear plan—just a desire to find work that felt meaningful. Even now, working alongside my sister, I see firsthand how hard it is to fight for fair compensation in this industry. Brands often try to undervalue our work, assuming that “exposure” or a free product is enough, and we’ve had to be firm about our worth.
Building a brand from scratch is a challenge, and some months are definitely better than others. But despite the financial stress, I’ve never felt more fulfilled. Creating content brings me so much joy, and there are moments when I have to pinch myself because I can’t believe I actually get to do this every day.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I currently work exclusively with my sister, but I’d love to eventually take on more clients. My role involves managing her emails and schedule related to brand partnerships. I’m also responsible for receiving brand briefs, analyzing the talking points and non-negotiable elements, creating concepts and scripts, sending my sister a bulleted filming list, and then editing everything together into a cohesive video or set of videos.
What makes my creative projects unique is my ability to bring a fresh, innovative approach to marketing. I always aim to find new, interesting ways to present a product in a way that feels genuine and engaging. My sister and I are committed to authenticity and only agree to promote products we genuinely believe in or love.
I’ve been filming videos since I was 8 years old with my Dad’s VHS camera, and I’ve been editing them since I was around 13. I’ve always been passionate about technology and film, and I think that experience, combined with my love for the creative process, allows me to turn around projects quickly without sacrificing quality.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I believe everything is moving to social media. People who resist or avoid it are just delaying the inevitable. Social media allows us to connect with people and places we may never engage with physically, creating opportunities for communication and influence that didn’t exist before. This kind of connection is unprecedented, and brands are catching on quickly.
Twenty years ago, billboards, commercials, and magazine ads were the go-to methods for discovering new products. Now, we have trusted creators who can share detailed product information directly with their followers in a matter of seconds. Consumers can access these videos instantly, any time of day, with just the touch of a finger. The profitability and reach of this approach are incredible, and I think we’re only going to see the online space expand further, leading to an even greater demand for social media-related jobs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alexaspivey.substack.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexaspivey/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsalexadorian?_t=8qDsrYjd8xS&_r=1
