Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra Colton-Medici.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My sister Chrissy and I got our start in entertainment when we began dancing at the ages of three and five years old respectively. We excelled at tap dancing and won the Teen Dance Championship on Star Search in 1992. We had an agent and opened for Bill Cosby and Lou Rawl’s on the Las Vegas Strip. I cheered on the Varsity Cheer Team in High School and also in college for four years as an undergrad at the University of Oregon. I went on to graduate and became a Laker Girl in 2002. My performing career took me around the world touring with Rihanna, performing as a backup singer for Paulina Rubio and Katharine McPhee, and appearing in music videos with Snoop Dogg, Justin Timberlake, Raphael Saadiq, and more. My career took a few turns as I pursued journalism and ultimately went back to school for my Master’s of Communication Management and Doctorate of Education, USC 2015 & 2020. I’ve always worked to assist people to achieve their dreams along the way. Writing books on finding your passion and the steps it takes to pursue a dance career in Hollywood are ways that aspiring dancers and entrepreneurs have been able to use my work to push them even more in their careers. The guest lecturers I’ve presented at universities and colleges, in addition to coaching and mentoring aspiring dancers and small business owners are where I get the most joy. I am very lucky to have been able to create e-courses and provide an outlet for solopreneurs to build community and thrive. I have my mom and family to thank for helping me become the person I am today. Along with their support, my husband and two little girls are also my backbone. They allow me to pursue my dreams and give me so much never-ending love and are such a blessing.
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?
It would be great to say that my road has been without its ups and downs, but that’s not the case. During my performing career, there was a lot of rejection. This can take its toll on even the most secure entertainer. I also had a knee injury that, at times, prevented me from going out for jobs like I wanted to. I also was the of the Top 8 girls on So You Think You Can Dance to be kicked off on national television. Yes, it hurt. A lot. I don’t think anyone really prepares for that kind of disappointment and the onslaught of attention online in the halls of social media. I’m lucky that my talent in the performing arts was strong enough to survive that misstep. I reinvented my personal brand and was able to let the naysayers see that the narrative on reality television cannot break you. It need only to empower you to do more and be better. I created a magazine called Dance Track, and for the good that it did, I put a lot of money, time, and energy into it but discontinued it because I had a bigger calling to return to school and get a higher degree. This was a struggle to put it down and pick up something new because I loved doing it so much. Every decision has a moment of reflection, and I’m okay with that one now.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a digital strategist, e-course creator, and personal branding expert. I help entrepreneurs get to their goals in many ways. I’ve worked with small business owners and solopreneurs to find their passion and create marketing strategies to help them obtain success. My membership site, CollegeOfStyle.com will be launching in May 2021 and will provide online courses, workshops, and exclusive access to a private Facebook Group where like-minded entrepreneurs can build community, access talks and Q&As with business leaders, and get actionable guidance in the form of monthly bundles and added site content each month. What sets College of Style apart from others is that my background is in design and extensive research in targeting online consumers and digital strategy. All of the courses on CollegeOfStyle.com are rooted in design. These courses are meant to help entrepreneurs who have great ideas but are not skilled at or want to build on their skills in communication, leadership, presentation, email marketing, social media, sales, and more.
Taught through the lens of design and researched steps to achieve higher results, another key difference is my background in entertainment and the arts. No matter how much one tries to go viral, it is your authenticity that attracts your audience. Knowing that your business is not about putting on a show, but highlighting your true self, is where my brand so powerfully stands apart from others. I own my flaws, and I amp up my strengths. I lift up those who are in need of motivation and provide content that is curated and not just a bag of tricks or quick fixes. You get what you see, and I overdeliver. I’m also a podcast host of Sweet Bytes with Sandra, a business podcast that satisfies your entrepreneurial sweet tooth. Each week I talk digital business tips, bring an inspiring business leader on to chat about different challenges and their motivational story, and provide asides from my entertainment career as well.
What does success mean to you?
Success is doing what you love. Success to me is raising my family, providing resources for business owners, and finding ways to be creative on a daily basis. Success is looking defeat or rejection square in the face and proclaiming, “I am not done.”
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.sandracoltonmedici.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/drsandracoltonmedici
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/drsandracoltonmedici
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sandracolton
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-860232467-453401898
- Other: http://www.collegeofstyle.com
Image Credits:
Photo by Nikki Dalonzo.
