Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia Van Dyke.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Olivia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
The story of how I got to where I am started long before I was born. It starts with my father and the business he built from the ground up: Film Logic Customs Brokers. With only one partner, no office, and no clients they passed the time playing board games while patiently waiting for the phone to ring. Fast forward a few decades and that is where my chapter begins. When I told my father I was dropping out of college, he told me if I wasn’t going to pursue a traditional college career, I would have to come work in his office for the time being, filing and learning the company business. To my complete surprise, I fell in love! I found myself completely in awe of the industry niche. I fell in love with working with various productions, the quick-paced environment, the rush of deadlines, making personal connections with clients, and learning the ins and outs of what makes a business tick and grow.
After years of working in operations, I told him I wanted to stay. Something that was supposed to be a way for me to pass time during the summer became my passion, and my father and I continued to work together for years. I quickly became his right hand. He coached me through studying for the broker’s exam and I eventually became a Licensed Customs Broker at 21 years of age. This was a timely milestone, as I would come to understand since a few short years later, he was diagnosed with Leukemia and passed away. Thankfully, the hard work and years of learning from him helped me with my next chapter, stepping into the largest shoes I’ve ever tried on: CEO of Film Logic Customs Brokers, Inc. With his former partner who is now my partner and cherished mentor, Marvin, by my side, we have continued to build and grow Film Logic. We have worked diligently expanding markets, hiring more staff, opening new offices, and expanding our family, as we like to say. Every day is a new challenge and an opportunity to learn how to continue to fill those shoes, but with the amazing team I’m blessed to have at Film Logic, the sky is the limit.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Shortly after passing the exam, I was working in the office as a licensed broker, building my life as a newlywed, when my family received the terrible news of my dad’s diagnosis. Completely devastated, I took on the role of caretaker along with my younger brother. After nine months of fighting the cancer battle with my dad, I received some good news: I was pregnant! It was three months later, a day before my 25 birthday, that I lost my dad. Having to undertake the unforeseen responsibility of navigating this new role, especially pregnant, was a challenge, to say the least. I had some difficult days not knowing which challenging role to focus on, new mother or new CEO, but I learned quickly that it truly takes a village. I have an amazing crew who supported me the entire time. It is the labor of love and a dedicated group hustle from everyone on the team that keeps Film Logic flourishing today.
Film Logic – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
What am I NOT proud of?! I’m proud of the legacy my father has left behind, building a company that is more like a family. I’m most proud of the team we have, each individual handpicked for their unique character and influence they provide to the team. I’m proud of the work ethic we have as a whole, which is undeniably unparalleled. In an industry that is 9-5, we are 24/7. In an industry that says, “Sorry, we can’t.” We say “I will make this work!” I’m so proud of the diversity. We are a female-owned, minority staffed office. Most of us speak more than one language, and for most, English is our second. We are a relatively small office, doing large scale work, all while laughing and finding ways to keep the environment fun and light-hearted. I’m proud of how little employees turn around we have. We have a “work hard, play hard” mentality, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Each team member understands the needs of our clients and works hard each day to deliver.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We’re on the rise! I have a vision of what Film Logic looks like, and it’s bigger and better. We are expanding on our network which currently consists of our home base in Los Angeles and our office in Vancouver, BC. We recently opened a new office in Bogota, Colombia. We are in the works of opening a new base to service Mexico. I hope to have quality offices opened and sustaining themselves in the next decade to come. For us, it’s not about quantity, it’s about quality. Taking the time to make sure they are working properly is much more important than making sure we have an office in every corner of the world. You will find companies which operate like that, no doubt, but if you’re looking for the attention to detail and white-glove service, it will be here at Film Logic. We are working on sustainable growth. We’re playing the long game and we’re here to stay.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
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