Find Something That Sets You Apart: Interview with Caroline Vazzana
Several years ago, I interviewed social media influencer Caroline Vazzana in an interview originally published in Thrive Global. Here is an excerpt from our conversation:
Adam: What is something about you that the many people who follow you don’t know?
Caroline: When I started my career I wanted to become a fashion designer!
Adam: What are your hobbies and how have they shaped you?
Caroline: In college, I was a varsity cross country and track runner. Being a runner taught me so much about persistence, how hard work can pay off, and how to push through the hard times! I’ve been able to apply so much of this into my career!
Adam: How did you become an “influencer”?
Caroline: I never set out to become an influencer. I started writing my book “Making it in Manhattan: The Beginners Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the World of Fashion” and my literary agent suggested I start a website also called Making it in Manhattan! From there, things just started to take off and before I knew it I became an influencer.
Adam: What is the biggest misconception about the influencer world and life as an influencer?
Caroline: That all we do all day is take pictures! It’s actually a lot of hard work - so much planning, research, and concept creation goes on behind the scenes that we can’t always share with our followers!
Adam: What advice do you have for those interested in becoming influencers?
Caroline: Find something that sets you apart and run with it! There’s so many influencers out there at the moment so try finding something that will set you and your brand apart. Ask yourself, why should someone follow you? What can you add to the mix that isn’t already being done?
Adam: What advice do you have for those interested in working with influencers?
Caroline: I think it’s so important to make sure whatever project or campaign you’re considering working on, make sure it is on brand for you. Make sure your brand and theirs align well and it makes sense. I think looking for influencers who fit well with your brand and that are also offering something different is great!
Adam: What has being an influencer taught you about branding and marketing?
Caroline: I’ve learned so much about how to brand myself and how to sell myself to an audience or brand! I’ve learn so much about what I like and what I don’t like and I am constantly challenging myself to always be creative!
Adam: Who have been the biggest influences in your life?
Caroline: My parents have been a huge inspiration to me along with designers like Betsey Johnson and Nicole Miller! I pay it forward through my book where I share all of my tips and tricks to getting your foot in the door and landing your dream job!
Adam Mendler is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, educator, and nationally recognized authority on leadership. Adam is the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one-on-one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal-winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations. Adam has written extensively on leadership and related topics, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders. A Los Angeles native, Adam is a lifelong Angels fan and an avid backgammon player.
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