Inspiring Conversations with Eva Steortz of Vita Creativa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eva Steortz

Hi Eva, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have always been a dreamer, doer, and champion of bold moves. I grew up in small-town West Virginia and took a one-way ticket to LA after college.I got a job doing product placement in films within three months using research from her college thesis. I loved reading scripts and taking clients onto film sets but wanted to get closer to the business of entertainment. One fateful day, I applied to a role at The Walt Disney via a classified ad and spent 20 years working my way up from manager to VP in multiple sales, marketing, and brand management roles. Now I do brand strategy consulting and have done projects with all the major entertainment studios plus toy, publishing and video game companies.

Inspired by growing up in West Virginia and her successful career, I published a career advice book called “From the Outhouse to the Mouse House: Crap You Need to Know for a Dream Come True Career.”

I call myself a career advice enthusiast. I believe success is simpler than most make it. I created a RPM formula promoting focus on Relationships, Positivity, and Motivation to keep one moving forward while having lots of fun.

I recently went back to school and am now also a certified Executive Coach. My coaching approach is inspired by my career experience, positive psychology, and research-based training at Fielding University.

Clients love my practical approach, inspiring wisdom, unwavering positivity plus the results I help them achieve. I support people in creating the life they want to live. It’s the most fulfilling work of my career.

I also love college guest lecturing and mentoring students along coaching volunteer work with underserved communities.

I share my life with my husband, son, two dogs, and a flock of backyard chickens. To relax, I do yoga, gardening, and champagne as needed.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth is no fun. I have always loved a challenge which is a good thing if you want to work in entertainment in LA. I have had to be more bold than comfortable. If you aren’t sweating a little bit, you’re not doing it right. I was working my way up the “corporate ladder” in the 90s during a time where especially as a woman people noticed how many hours you were grinding. Even when my son was born, I had the nanny bring him to the office so I could work until 8 pm or even 9 pm. Work life integration is what I called it. He actually remembers it fondly and people still ask about him as he would attend toy approval meetings with me. I have also been laid off three times; twice by Disney. Not many can say that. It comes with the territory. You learn not to take it personally and how to get very resourceful and resilient. I truly believe in my philosophy that it’s all about relationships, staying positive and being very self motivated. There’s always a new fun adventure right around the corner.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I called my company Vita Creativa which is Creative Life in Italian. My husband is half Italian but we pretend to be full blooded Italians with lots of pasta, wine, and laughter. My son’s name is Nico. All of my chickens have Italian names. My husband’s a writer. My son’s a photographer. We are all creatives living a very creative life.

I believe everyone has the power to create the life they want to live. As a business strategy consultant, I help corporate clients create the success they seek for their brands. I also support my coaching clients in creating bold action plans to achieve their personal and professional goals.
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I have worked hard plus been very blessed. I believe everyone deserves a career they love. So that’s it really. I love helping other people create their own dream-come-true career and happy balanced life.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
While most people know I am from West Virginia, had an outhouse and grew up surrounded by farm animals, they don’t know my first job was blue collar. I wore a hard hat, safety glasses, and boots while insulating pipes in a chemical factory. It was hot sweaty work. Hard work builds character.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vitacreativa.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evasteortz/

Image Credits
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