Today we’d like to introduce you to Salena Rochester.
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?
I started at NBCUniversal eight years ago as a page. I had various assignments across the company- Weekend Today, MSNBC election desk among others. I was offered a full-time assistant position at Bravo and have been the company ever since. I rose the ranks to become VP, Production and Development for Bravo and E! In this role, I have overseen some the networks biggest shows including The Real Housewives of Atlanta and New York, Million Dollar Listing NY, Married to Medicine and other spin-offs and specials. I also have multiple shows in development for both networks. I think there are a lot of factors that contributed to where I am. Networking was definitely key. I’ve always been one to attend events and networking parties to meet new people. I generally enjoy talking to people so it’s something I enjoy but also treat as a part of my professional growth. I moved to LA two and half years ago from NYC and for the first time in my career, I feel like I work in the entertainment industry. So many people move to LA to pursue their dreams that I’ve found a community of creative and dedicated individuals. I really enjoy working in “an industry town” because I’m an industry girl hoping to make my wildest dreams come true.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Though my career has taken me to places I never would’ve imagined such as having a show nominated for an Emmy and being in the same room as Ava Duvernay when she won four for her impactful documentary Emmy 13th or rubbing elbows with celebrities and content creators, I’ve grown up watching and admiring; it hasn’t been without obstacles and struggles. A few weeks after being promoted and excited to take on the challenge of producing more shows with more independence my personal life came to a shattering halt. My healthy 32 years old husband was diagnosed with stomach cancer. A year and half earlier, we welcomed a baby boy into our lives and were on the path to a white picket fence and suburban bliss. However, that wasn’t the life I was supposed to have. My husband passed away after a 14-month battle and I found myself having to figure out what life was supposed to be. That was the hardest thing I have gone through but it taught me just how fragile life can be. In a moment’s notice, we can be gone and so I decided to live each day to its fullest. I packed my son up and moved out to Los Angeles to rebuild my life. I was at ground zero trying to figure out what my journey was supposed to be.
Up until that point, I had a specific life plan but now the canvas was blank. I had dreams of moving to LA but never acted on them out of fear of failure. However, I knew I had so much more to offer in terms of my creative output so I took a leap of faith. I didn’t know what to expect from this new city across the country from my family and friends. I knew that if I wanted to make my dreams of writing and producing scripted content that LA was the place to be. Within weeks of moving here, I found myself at events and meeting people who would help take me to the next level. Within two years, I was promoted again and working with people that I never would have had I not made the move. As hard as it is to not have my husband in this physical realm, I know that he is working his angel powers to open doors for me. One of the biggest takeaways from this experience is knowing when to give up control of knowing what the future holds and start living in the present moment. I still have goals and plans for what I want out of life but I’ve given in to the vast field of possibilities that the universe offers. There is no one path and straight outcome so all I can do is stick my head out of the window and take in the breeze as I ride through the unknown journey of life.
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?
As an exec at Bravo, I have the pleasure of producing shows that millions of people tune into weekly. It’s pretty surreal knowing that the work I do has a lasting impact on pop culture. It’s so hard to describe all the facets of my job but essentially I along with the other co-execs and producers manage all aspects of the show. For instance, I may be looking at casting for an upcoming season of Married To Medicine or I may be on a weekly production call for Million Dollar Listing NY where I check in with the field producers on the content we’re capturing. I also work with our production and ops team to ensure budgets are accurate or meeting with the marketing team to discuss the big moments in an upcoming season so that they can execute effective campaigns to drive tune in. As a development exec, I take pitches from celebrities, producers and or agents about potential show ideas. I really love telling meaningful stories about real people. Most people write off reality shows or docuseries as frivolous tv that is scripted or fake and while some of the content may be light and silly, I strive to ensure that we are telling real and compelling stories that people will find entertaining and relatable.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love that this is truly an industry town. When I worked in NYC as an entertainment exec, there wasn’t a huge community of entertainment people. Since moving to LA, I feel like I work in entertainment. It could be that my office overlooks the Universal lot or that I can go into a coffee shop and see someone reading a script or overhear people discussing an upcoming short film shoot. I’ve met so many people who are hungry to create content and pursue their dreams. The city feeds my creative soul and I gain so so much inspiration from riding the long winding roads with a mountain backdrop. I like that everyone is so friendly… people have a more laid-back and chill vibe here. It took me a while to stop whizzing through the grocery store like a madwoman. The thing I like the least about LA is the traffic though it’s cleared up some due to the quarantine.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salenaroc
- Other: Club House- @Salenar
