Meet Una Bassilli of Chatsworth

Today we’d like to introduce you to Una Bassilli.

Hi Una, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have always been a bit of a rebel with a creative streak, so when my immigrant parents pushed me toward a “safe” college degree, I picked marketing — the most creative option I could find on the “practical” path. Fresh out of school with my B.Comm (Honors), I landed a dream job and over the next few years, I had the pleasure of working with big corporations and inspiring community leaders in Canada and Los Angeles. It looked perfect on paper — great office, amazing boss, colleagues far smarter than I (I love the idea of placing yourself in rooms filled with smarter individuals) — but something was missing. My soul was craving something different…

I took a leap, ditched the corporate life, and moved from Canada to sunny Los Angeles to chase my creative dreams. I dove headfirst into the world of fashion, styling on various sets and photoshoots with passionate creatives from all corners of the globe. It was truly a blast, and I learned a lot, but I soon realized I needed a bit more structure to balance the chaos.

That’s when I pivoted to the film industry, landing at an independent film distribution company. Somehow, with zero experience working in film, my awesome boss there hired me because we “just jived” in the interview (her words!). Despite the steep learning curve, I found the perfect blend of creativity and structure. That experience was the spark that ignited my own digital marketing agency, One & Only Agency.

Alright, 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?
I always count my blessings. It has been a smooth road in the sense that I have always had a solid support system. My parents encouraged and supported me even when my path strayed from their vision for me. My husband — a major inspiration to me, as he is a true entrepreneur — encouraged me to take the leap to start my own agency. The community I have around me — friends and colleagues who inspire me — have all made it smoother. However, the road has not been without its twists and turns, and looking back, the hardest part has been choosing to take a risk and venture off on my own!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am the owner and creative director at One & Only Agency, a boutique, full-service digital marketing agency based in Los Angeles, California. We specialize in web development, branding, visual design, and all things digital marketing — including AI integrations. Over the course of my career, I have discovered that I love helping small business owners build their dreams. I know how hard it can be to take the leap and start your own business — I’ve lived it myself and have experienced the process many times secondhand as well, standing alongside some of my closest friends as they envision, plan, work, and launch businesses. I think what I love most about my job is the fact that every single client is passionate about what they are doing, and that passion just rubs off on me, fueling my desire to do the best job I can for them.

What sets One & Only Agency apart is the fact that I personally oversee each project and am directly involved with each client. In addition to a professional relationship, we end up building a type of friendship as well. I truly enjoy that I’m able to build these types of connections with my clients, and I strongly believe this adds authenticity to the end result of each project. At One & Only, we get to know the people behind the business. We are experts at incorporating their vision and essence into the brand we help build. This just might be the secret sauce that makes their brand stand out!

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I touched on this briefly earlier. I definitely took some risks earlier on in my career by quitting a cushy corporate job, moving to another country, and working in a totally unrelated field. This seemed erratic to some, and didn’t make much sense to many, but to me, it was the obvious next step. I had to satisfy my curiosity and thirst for creativity. If we have an itch that won’t go away, we have to scratch it! Taking this risk showed me that I really could do anything if I set my mind to it — as cliché as that sounds, I believe it to be true. It gave me confidence to pursue various other jobs and eventually take the risk of starting my own business. Looking back at the journey I have been on, all the bumps, turns, and hiccups along the road have turned out to be stepping stones — and those have often been the result of taking a risk. So I guess what I’m trying to say is that I believe taking calculated risks is necessary for growth and evolution. Even if the road may be more uncomfortable than the “safe” route we are on, it will certainly be worth it!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://1oagency.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1oagency/?igsh=NXcwbnd0NDh3ejNu&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1oagency