Today we’d like to introduce you to Eden Weinberg and Melissa Lee.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Eden: After graduating from Boston University in 2017 with a dual degree in Advertising and Graphic Design, I was hired as the Creative Marketing Manager at Bell + Ivy, an integrated marketing communications agency in Santa Monica, CA. I was the third member of the company after the two co-founders, Zach Binder and Cynthia Johnson. Melissa, team member #4, came on shortly after me as a referral for the PR position. We weren’t super well acquainted at that time but her energy gave me confidence that I was pitching someone who would be an amazing addition to the team I knew Cynthia and Zach were looking to build. I’m so thankful to have her by my side not only as my colleague but also my best friend. We support each other in ways that not only make such an impact on the work we do but also in the lives we lead. We’re able to balance our work dynamic with our personal dynamic and that unique relationship is so special. We call each other work wives and best friends and I don’t think there could be a more perfect and fitting description of our relationship.
Since I started at Bell + Ivy, I have had the opportunity to watch the company grow in reputation and volume, acquire an established PR agency, and open our second office in Las Vegas.
Melissa: I would say that the story of how I got to be where I am today is quite serendipitous. I actually moved to LA after graduating college without a job. I was living with other Boston University alumni at the time and Eden, also an alumna, was over a lot so we naturally became friends. Of course, the topic of work came up and she was telling me about her role at Ipseity (now known as Bell + Ivy) but they weren’t hiring at the time. I carried on with the other interviews I had set up but about two weeks later, I received a text from her about an opportunity as a PR coordinator. The next day I interviewed, met my soon-to-be bosses and the rest is history. Eden and I quickly went from friendly acquaintances to best friends, work wives, and each other’s confidants while navigating post-college life as working adults. We’ve traveled across the country together, from Dreamforce in San Francisco to Tribeca Film Festival in New York City, and, even though we work in separate wheelhouses, we’re able to complement one another’s work and support each other when needed. We often reflect back to the day we moved into the new office, the trials and tribulations of rebranding Ipseity Media to Bell + Ivy, and how fearless and excited we were for this new chapter. Three years later, we’re still best friends who have the privilege of working together and watching each other grow.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Eden: I feel fortunate to have had a seamless transition from graduating undergrad to starting a full-time position with Bell + Ivy. In a lot of ways, things have been “smooth”, but it took time and experience to learn how to be autonomous in my work, successfully manage client and colleague communications, and find balance in both my professional and personal life. The beauty of working in a startup environment is the element of accelerated growth. I have bosses who support and challenge me to take on a leadership role with our high profile clientele and encourage extreme ownership of my projects. The responsibility that I have been entrusted with has been almost like a professional boot camp where I have been fast-tracked—allowed to grow through experience, testing different processes, failing sometimes, and learning important lessons from those mistakes in order to thrive and succeed.
Melissa: Before joining Bell + Ivy, the majority of my internships and professional experiences had been at companies that already had processes and structures in place. So when I stepped into my role, which was PR + marketing coordinator at the time, there was a huge learning curve because I now had the opportunity to help build a company from the ground up, develop my own structure, and be a part of the decision-making process. In hindsight, it was a lot of responsibility to take on as a recent college graduate but I quickly learned that it is okay to ask for help and if you’re going to fail, do so upwards. My position continues to challenge me and forces me to lean into being comfortable with being uncomfortable. I wholeheartedly believe I am better now because of it! The full faith and trust my bosses continue to put in me to call the shots and trust my instincts has genuinely shaped me into the scrappy and adaptable leader I am today.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Bell + Ivy – what should we know?
Eden: My role at Bell + Ivy is leading the creative department. I’m responsible for developing and designing all of the creative assets we deliver to our clients, whether it’s a website or a billboard ad, I either design and build that asset or manage the design process of one of our designers. I’ve hosted branding workshops in Italy, launched a webinar series for the agency, built a publishing platform and community to support people impacted by the current state of the world, and spoken as an advisor on department boards at colleges and universities. I have learned invaluable public speaking tools, how to successfully negotiate differences between both individual and corporate clients integrating both emotional and business expertise, and how, in our oversaturated world where everyone needs to be a brand, what truly can make a mark for my clients to stand out.
I’m incredibly proud of the way that our company works collaboratively with our clients to not only provide them with deliverables that they can be proud of but also to teach them the reason why we are building the assets for them and what purpose those assets serve for their campaign. I think that our style as a company is different from other agencies in the sense that we care deeply about the interpersonal relationships we develop with our clients and value those dynamics as a crucial piece of the success of their campaigns.
Melissa: As the PR + marketing manager, I work on all the PR needs across the board but I specifically have a heavy hand in the personal branding campaigns. Personal branding is a niche offering that we’ve grown to be known for and ultimately separates us from other agencies. Rather than working on a specific product or company, we work with the executives representing those companies to strategically share their stories in order to proliferate influence for their companies. This creates a more holistic and human approach to marketing and storytelling that the industry is naturally moving towards. Our core team is small but mighty. We’ve found a beautiful way to work together and understand each other’s workflows and styles without having to say anything. This powerful dynamic is what allows us to best serve our clients.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Eden: I was born and raised in Los Angeles but I had always felt a bit disconnected from the city growing up. I think that disconnect came from some of the people I was surrounded by and a craving for something different/new. I always planned on staying on the east coast after I graduated college in Boston, but for whatever reason, everything pulled me back (job, family, boyfriend, etc.). Living in LA as an adult, I found a new connection with “my city” through the relationships I built with new and different people that I met once I moved back here. I feel really lucky that I was able to discover those people here with a different attitude. LA is a pretty perfect place to live for the most part but I think what makes it the most special is finding such a broad range of people and building your circle. This is something that I didn’t have in the same way growing up here but am grateful to have found now. I’ve grown to love and appreciate the beautiful art, culture, nature, and incredible epicurious offerings this city has to offer. But what I’m most grateful for is the super special group of people who I’m able to share these adventures with.
Melissa: I could do without the traffic, but other than that, what’s not to like? LA is a melting pot of different cultures and cuisines, has incredible weather, and provides a new adventure in every direction. Two hours south will bring you to San Diego, 2 hours west will take you to Big Bear or Joshua Tree, and if you drive north you’ll hit Santa Barbara, Ojai, Paso Robles, etc. Where else in the world do you have the option to be at the beach in the morning but then in mountains snowboarding by the afternoon? I will always have a special place in my heart for the east coast and miss the nuances of Boston, but as the phrase goes…west coast best coast…and I’m enjoying the process of exploring what this city has to offer!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bellivy.com/
- Phone: 3104027048
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellivyinc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BellIvyLA
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/bellivyinc
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