Life & Work with Elen Gasparyan of Burbank, CA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elen Gasparyan.

Hi Elen, 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 started my career in banking at 18 before transitioning into marketing and entrepreneurship. Over the past decade, I have helped lead more than 700 marketing and branding projects through Davel Creative Agency, which I co-founded with my husband.

Along the way, I was honored to become an Executive Member of the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), the organization behind the Webby Awards, and a member of The One Club for Creativity. I have also served as a judge for the Webby Awards, Anthem Awards, The Drum Awards, and Digiday Awards.

As an entrepreneur, mother, and lifelong learner, I am passionate about helping organizations build trust, tell meaningful stories, and create a lasting impact in their communities.

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?
One of the biggest challenges was starting my company while I was nine months pregnant. After giving birth to my daughter, I was back in the office just four days later because I knew I had responsibilities to my clients, my team, and the business I was building.

Over the past ten years, there have been many moments when I felt exhausted and questioned whether I should slow down and live a more comfortable life. Building a business is rewarding, but it can also be lonely and demanding. There are no guarantees, and every new level brings new challenges.

What has helped me keep going is my willingness to adapt. Every few months, I look back and realize I am a completely different person than I was before. The challenges, mistakes, and experiences constantly force me to grow.
One lesson I am still learning is that success is not only about working harder. Sometimes the most important thing is learning how to switch off your brain, take a break, and give yourself time to recharge. That balance is something many entrepreneurs struggle with, and I am no exception.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
One of the projects I am most proud of is developing the C.O.S.M.O.S. Method, a marketing framework that I later published as both a scientific paper and a book. It was born from years of hands-on experience and my desire to bring more structure and accountability to creative work.

I am also proud of campaigns that have helped amplify important causes, particularly within cancer support communities. Those projects taught me that creative work can do much more than promote a product or service. It can help people feel seen, understood, and supported during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

What sets me apart is that I approach every project as both a strategist and a storyteller. I am interested not only in how something looks, but in why it matters and how it makes people feel. Whether I am working with a nonprofit, a healthcare organization, or a growing business, my goal is always the same: to create work that people remember because it genuinely connects with them.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I grew up in a very traditional country where certain activities were often viewed as being more appropriate for boys than girls. Martial arts was one of them. Looking back, I think growing up in that environment made me more determined to follow my own path and challenge expectations.

Today, one of my biggest passions is martial arts. I practice karate competitively and train in traditional Japanese weapons and sword disciplines. What started as curiosity became an important part of my life, teaching me discipline, resilience, humility, and continuous self-improvement.

I think that mindset has carried over into every area of my life. Whether in business, sports, or personal growth, I have always been drawn to challenges and to proving that limitations are often much smaller than we think they are.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://elengasparyan.com/recognition/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paytyano/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elengasparyan