Stay True to Your Brand: Interview with Natalie Odell

Several years ago, I interviewed social media influencer Natalie Odell in an interview originally published in Thrive Global. Here is an excerpt from our conversation:

Adam: What is something about you that would surprise people?

Natalie: Thanks for having me Adam! People are always curious as to what ethnicity I am. I come from a unique combination of Jamaican, Irish, English, Slovakian, Italian, Scotch, and we recently found out we have Austrian ancestry as well. It would be interesting for us to do a DNA test and see what else we have in our mix.

Adam: What are your hobbies and how have they shaped you?

Natalie: My fitness goals have shaped me in a way where it showed me in physical form what consistency looks like, or the lack thereof. I am constantly looking to master that aspect of myself.

Adam: How did you become an “influencer”?

Natalie: I’ve always wanted to be an actor since a young age. I became an influencer by accident really, but it really wasn’t an accident. It was part of my path. It started with generating followers while I was living in Miami, my hometown. The momentum came with my move from Miami to LA. I only knew one person that worked with big influencers and we ended up collaborating. I grew to 10k followers and decided to start making my own short skits. I grew from 10k to 70k very quickly and continued to rise as I put out more content.

Adam: What advice do you have for those interested in becoming influencers?

Natalie: Pick a niche and stay true to your brand. Consistency is key to gaining momentum. You are a creator, so create constantly.

Adam: What is the biggest misconception about the influencer world and life as an influencer?

Natalie: The biggest misconception about being an influencer is that it’s super easy. It’s difficult and requires dedication. Essentially, you are your own production company. You create content, you film, edit, and post your work, all the while juggling and managing multiple deals and projects. If you are not organized, it can get overwhelming.

Adam: What advice do you have for those interested in working with influencers?

Natalie: For those brands interested in working with influencers, it’s important to pay attention to the quality of the following. Do your research to find out if followers are engaging in the product or service being promoted. Look to see if your influencer is engaging with their followers as well. This added value provides a personalized experience, which is likely to increase support and engagement.

Adam: Who have been the biggest influences in your life?

Natalie: Viola Davis, Will Smith, and Leo DiCaprio are some of my top influences in my career due to the fact that their versatility is phenomenal. Their talent and dedication shows in their work and it inspires me to do the same.


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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