Seek Authentic Partnerships: Interview with Actress Torri Webster

Several years ago, I interviewed actress and influencer Torri Webster in an interview originally published in Thrive Global. Here is an excerpt from our conversation:

Adam: How did you become an “influencer”?

Torri: When I was 14 I was cast as the lead of a Nickelodeon/ YTV show. My audience on social media stemmed from the role I played on television. One of my co-stars was already quite popular on social media, and she definitely helped put my name on the map, and get my profile seen! The progression to becoming an “influencer” happened naturally as the industry shifted once creators started monetizing their following. I hopped on board right at the beginning, and have been creating branded content ever since.

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

Torri: My advice for those looking to work with influencers is to seek authentic partnerships and not just work with someone because they have the most amount of followers. Often micro-influencers have a much more engaged audience that can be very powerful for a brand. Consider the influencer’s demographics, reach, and impressions when trying to find the right fit.

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

Torri: Try to stay as involved in the community as possible! Look to intermediaries who help influencers set fair rates, and connect influencers to both local and international brands. Using these platforms can help get your page noticed by major brands.

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

Torri: The biggest misconception is that the influencer world is glamorous! Often I will have to shoot and re-shoot content for hours at a time. We work really hard to bring brand stories to life, and I think people like to simplify and discredit our work. We are tastemakers and trendsetters, and with this, we are beginning to demand respect in the industry.

Adam: What has being an influencer taught you about branding and marketing?

Torri: That when partnerships feel authentic consumers will listen. People are losing trust in television ads, and billboards. Now consumers turn to influencers for relatable peer-to-peer advice and recommendations. The shift is definitely moving towards word-of-mouth marketing, and using influencers allows for the spread of positive brand awareness.

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

Torri: Some of my hobbies include spinning and yoga! I try to stay as active as possible because it keeps me grounded in this very hectic and pervasive social media community.

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

Torri: My parents have been my biggest influences. My father is also an entrepreneur and has taught me so much about the business world. My mother is extremely creative and reminds me to have fun and embrace my playful side. I like to think I have a good balance of both the creative and business mindset. I like to pay this forward into the industry by using my business expertise to create new standards for the influencers in the marketing sector, but I also use my creativity to keep the quality of my content aesthetic and engaging. 


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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