Today we’d like to introduce you to Shontel Horne.
Shontel, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up in the South, but my mom likes to remind me that I started to talk about moving to L.A. when I was 16!
My childhood was split between Pensacola, FL and Atlanta, GA, and I consider them both my hometown. I ended up going to college in Atlanta, first to a community college because I got to attend for close to free, then to Georgia State University where I studied literature and film.
It’s funny to think about it now since I work in TV full-time, but when I look back, I’ve been working in TV off-and-on for years. My interest was sparked when I worked at my high school’s news station and I did an internship at Turner Classic Movies during my senior year of college, which was my first real experience working in entertainment.
After college, my dream was to work at CNN and I even worked at a restaurant in Atlanta’s CNN Center to get comfortable going to the complex, but the Great Recession had other plans. The Recession of 2008 obliterated the job market, and it was impossible for me to find stable work for years.
I moved from Atlanta to L.A. a few months after graduation with an unpaid editorial internship at Angeleno magazine and quickly learned my way around the city by covering galas and parties and interviewing celebrities, entrepreneurs, and artists. My first few months in L.A. were the biggest culture shock of my life because I was thrown into some pretty surreal situations instantly. I always say the crash course I received is probably why I’m still here. I hit the ground running from the day I got to L.A. and I got to know many aspects of the city that I wouldn’t have learned on my own.
I quickly started getting paid writing assignments from the magazine and began a career as a freelance writer, but the reality is it’s an incredibly difficult way to make a living. I worked a series of odd retail and restaurant jobs before landing a job ghost-writing blogs and social media for celebrities. I’ve worked at a few digital agencies, did a stint as a full-time travel writer, but I’m blessed that all of my experiences have lead to where I am today.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I’ve come up against challenges every step of the way. The Recession set me back several years, to the point where I didn’t even land my first full-time job until I was 26. I’ve been laid off, I’ve been fired, I’ve been taken advantage of by companies that have refused to pay me on time, if at all.
For years I was worried my resume made me seem as if I had no direction, but my career decisions, especially my bouncing between roles in editorial, digital/social media marketing, and entertainment, always made sense to me. I could see where media and entertainment were going and that traditional jobs were fading. I knew I was getting a well-rounded look into how to engage audiences in a multitude of ways, but for years it was nearly impossible for me to explain the value of having such a unique experience. Now my skills are appropriate for roles at agencies, media outlets, entertainment companies, and in-house at nearly every kind of brand, but it took nearly ten years for everyone to finally catch up.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I currently work as a digital producer at a cable network where I lead the content strategy for our YouTube channel, our digital products, and our slate of digital original content. My biggest responsibility is to determine how to support our shows in a way that honors the original creative vision, serves the audience on our specific platforms, and scales the network’s digital business in a way that is sustainable and efficient.
I also continue to work as a journalist, but instead of focusing only on luxury, I tend to write about the contributions women and Black people make to industries where we’re either underrepresented or represented but undervalued.
After years of writing for others and helping entrepreneurs build and grow their brands, I’m excited to focus on my own projects while also continuing my work in TV. I’m launching my media and brand consulting company https://www.howwelux.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I spent a lot of time to myself. My brother is 12 years older than me, so my experience is on par with being an only child. I was incredibly shy and I read any and everything I could get my hands on and I interested in understanding what went into making movies and TV shows at an early age.
I attribute my creative spirit entirely to my mom, who always supplied me with instruments, tools, books, and materials whenever I wanted to attempt a new project. I would be nothing without the unconditional encouragement I received. I’m less shy now, but very little else has changed.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shontelhorne.com/
- Instagram: @shontelhorne
- Twitter: @shontelhorne
- Other: @howwelux @rockmeproject
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