Hidden Gems: Meet Cathy Campo of The Hollywood Assistant

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cathy Campo

Hi Cathy, 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?
I grew up in a quiet New Jersey suburb, and TV quickly became my window to the world. Storytelling captivated me from a young age, and I pursued it wholeheartedly, majoring in theater with a focus on playwriting at Brown University. Brown introduced me to opportunities I never thought possible, especially through the generosity of alumni in the entertainment industry—an otherwise elusive field for someone with no prior connections. With their mentorship, I secured internships at The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and CNBC’s Mad Money with Jim Cramer.

After graduation, I joined NBCUniversal’s prestigious Page Program, a rotational fellowship that deepened my understanding of the media landscape. This paved the way for a three-year role at Netflix in content development for reality TV.

At Netflix, I became increasingly aware of how inaccessible the entertainment industry can be for newcomers. To help change that, I launched ‘The Hollywood Assistant,’ an e-newsletter and digital media platform aimed at demystifying the business for aspiring professionals. What started as a passion project has since grown to thousands of subscribers, featuring interviews with executives, insider tips, and thought-provoking op-eds. I’ve now pivoted toward the business side by pursuing an MBA at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and have passed on the Editor-in-Chief role to two talented leaders: Natalie Lifson (Buchwald) and Lucy Stover (More / Medavoy Management).

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?
The road certainly hasn’t been smooth. While many in the industry are supportive of making Hollywood more accessible, there are still some who prefer to uphold the old guard. I’ve faced my fair share of rejections from potential interviewees for The Hollywood Assistant.

Time management was another significant challenge. For a year and a half, I led the newsletter on my own—sourcing content, conducting interviews, editing, and formatting each issue. Balancing this with a demanding full-time role at Netflix often felt like juggling two full-time jobs. Building a network of contributors and carving out time for the newsletter amidst my day-to-day responsibilities required a lot of late nights and early mornings.

As you know, we’re big fans of The Hollywood Assistant. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The idea for The Hollywood Assistant emerged from a deep-seated frustration with the entertainment industry’s lack of accessibility. Having navigated this challenging landscape, I witnessed firsthand the countless individuals struggling to break in. The Hollywood Assistant’s focus on mentorship, career advice, and insider knowledge has resonated with a growing audience of thousands. The overwhelming response has validated our belief that there is a genuine demand for a free, accessible platform that demystifies the entertainment industry and empowers aspiring professionals to achieve their goals.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
From a young age, I was captivated by both acting and writing—two passions that ultimately guided me toward playwriting in college. Both creative writing and theater gave me the freedom to explore any character or scenario I could imagine and offered a form of escapism.

According to my parents, I’ve always ‘marched to the beat of my own drum.’ While the rest of my family gravitated toward medicine and attended the same university, I chose a different path. I pursued a career in entertainment and was the first in my family to venture across the country to Los Angeles, embracing my desire to carve out a unique path. I’ve always been an independent thinker, which has fueled my journey—even when it meant making choices that went against the grain.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hollywood-assistant.com/
• Other: The Hollywood Assistant Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3nVj0lUUPAc5U4GxvOzyIQ?si=lEUtvjIPRqG1NOrHeUWPOA

Image Credits
The Hollywood Assistant logo: RoVan Media