Oct 5

Oct 5 Team Talk: Lexi and Chanel

Alexandra Beckman and Chanel Miller are recent graduates of ONE School, now working at R/GA. In this interview, they chat about how how their sense of purpose got them here and continues to drive them—both at work and outside of it.

What does ‘purpose’ mean to each of you, and how has this sense of purpose helped you navigate your career?

Lexi: Purpose has changed my life. It sounds corny, but it truly has. In my early 20s like most young professionals, I was lost and confused. Confused on what I wanted to do, who I wanted to be, even what I supported.

I was raised in the South and I quickly learned that my views differed from the majority of the views around me.

So, naturally I moved about as far away within the US as I could. The girl who had never been out of the country and to maybe 4 states at the time ended up in LA interning at an agency in Santa Monica and for the first time in my life I knew absolutely no one, I didn’t have roommates, family or friends and I was seriously broke. My hobbies were pretty limited.

But I wasn’t sad about it, in fact I was thrilled. I got to see and experience life exactly my way for what felt like the first time. 3 years, 3 women's marches, two big agency jobs and countless hikes and beach days later I had finally figured out my purpose; to always show up as my full self, to love and give love, and to help others even if it’s just one small thing in one small way.

Chanel: Purpose is the fire that pushes me. As a Bay Area native that moved across the country to Florida at a young age, I quickly figured out what it feels like to be out of my comfort zone. I longed for the sense of “home” that I would feel every summer when I’d go back to visit my older siblings. No matter how much adjusting, I never felt like I’d find what was meant for me while I was in Florida.

I packed up my life at 18 years old and moved back to the Bay Area. It was the perfect opportunity for me to go back as a young woman who was determined to find her own path and a career that allowed me to keep up with the Bay’s fast paste. I figured out how I could leave my mark. I’d finally found my purpose and realized I needed to venture out to learn that my discomfort was my transition into becoming a better creative.

Tell us about your journey to ONE School. What brought you there and what was that experience like?

Lex: I was in my 4th year working as an Account Manager. I was at a spot in my career where I should’ve been managing up for the next level, but I wasn’t. I thought and quite honestly I probably was; pretty bad at my job as an AM. I always felt like I was drowning and could never put my finger on why. I almost accepted that this is how it feels to work a 9-5; everyone must feel like this too right?

So I thugged it out and in my free time I started to lean into my passion projects more. I started freelance photography and became an ambassador with some female led climbing groups. I started advocating for diversity in the outdoors. I took control of my mental health and got diagnosed with depression and anxiety. A culmination of these things led me to the conclusion that I am creative, I love to write and create and I was already working with big brands on a personal level. I just needed to merge my passions projects with my 9-5; luckily I was already in the right industry.

I’ll never forget the day I opened my acceptance letter. I was driving back from Tahoe and I burst into tears. It was the first proof point that my instincts were right, I am fit out to do this.

The program instilled in me the confidence to show up as my full self and to not let that little voice in my head to f off. I think what made my experience so rich was our director, Ez Blanie. He’s just the most calm collected human. He’s brilliant, hilarious, humble and a damn good person. He created a safe space for us all to grow and learn together.

Chanel: Climbing the ladder with little creative work experience was tough. I started off doing smaller projects for a crowdsourcing startup in the Bay Area that just didn’t feed my niche. It did nothing but fuel my fire to keep looking while also selling personal paintings and digital illustration pieces at art shows on the side.

When I landed a position in advertising as a Production Designer, I was ecstatic. It was the perfect way for me to get my foot into the ad industry while honing my craft. Throughout my 2 years in that position I longed for more creative opportunities. I found them when I made it my mission to use my social platform to connect with people who do what I want to do.

I knew that applying to ONE School would mean I’d be putting myself in a large pool of creatives, but I also knew that applying myself would be worth the risk. I was sitting on the couch with a close friend when I received the acceptance email saying I’d been selected for the first ONE School West Coast class. I jumped around, I cried, and then had a celebratory drink. Connecting with such amazingly creative human beings was one of the best things that could have happened to me. Ez Blaine immediately made us feel comfortable while also providing mentorship and guidance throughout the whole course. It was a phenomenal experience, and I gained a new creative family from attending ONE School.

How have you found working as a newly formed creative team? What have been the biggest surprises? Challenges? Similarities?

Lex: With us both coming from the same class and having just experienced the program we both have an aligned perspective on who we want to be as creatives and the problems we want to help solve within the industry. We admire the same type of work; we want to make work that touches people, that speaks to underrepresented audiences and uplifts marginalized voices.

I think now we’re in a spot where we're beginning to settle into our roles and figure out how we best work together, how we both digest information and the nitty gritty day-to-day stuff. But when it comes to the bigger picture we’re lock step. We’ll always be evolving and growing as creatives and as humans so it’s expected to have our own hurdles, but I think how we’ll chose to navigate those hurdles will make the difference.

Chanel: Having a partner with the same goal in mind has been a great experience. We both have the urge to make dope work while making a mark within the industry. Our partnership has also had its challenges along the way, and we’ve had to learn to adapt to our most efficient ways of brainstorming and working styles. As time passes, we are gradually getting more comfortable with one another as we settle into our current roles.

You both have things going on outside of work. Tell us about your side hustles - have they helped you cultivate a sense of purpose?

Lex: I’m kinda that person that can’t sit still. I’m always busy and I’m always looking to create; It’s just so much fun. My main side gig right now is working as a creator and freelance photography. I’ve got to work with some amazing people and brands to share my story and advocate for diversity in the outdoors. I’ve also got to shoot some amazing people and help to visually tell their story.

I just finished a photography job with Another Tomorrow which is a sustainable clothing brand and certified B corp. I’ve also had the opportunity to do a self portrait for Athleta and on a separate occasion I filmed a guided yoga session with a Black female led yoga collective. I love wearing different hats from physically being the talent to shooting or filming it. It helps drive my purpose and keeps my love tank full.

Chanel: Outside work heavily inspires me and I’m fortunate enough to have a super tight creative circle of friends that I can work on passion projects with.

I currently have a podcast that I started with a friend that we use as a safe space and platform to discuss being creatives of color in our fields.

After a bit of warm up, I’ve gotten comfortable speaking freely and expressing my unfiltered thoughts. Aside from the podcast, I’ve recently relocated to New York and started an Etsy account that will feature digital illustrations based on the patterns, textures, and dope architecture I encounter while exploring my new surroundings. Continuing to connect and create within my art community while being in a new place drives my purpose.

What is your mission in advertising? If you could articulate one “change” you want to make in the industry, what is it and why is that important to you?

Lex: I want to work in an industry where its people are as diverse as the world we live in. Simply because that's how it should be. We could all stop missing the mark if the right people were on the right projects. Nuance and culture and perspective are critical to making good work and I think no matter what level you’re at in the industry there’s always some bit of knowledge or perspective that someone understands or has that you don't, that's just a fact of life.

Diversity challenges us all to widen our perspectives.

Chanel: Working in a place where there is leadership that looks like me is extremely important. Unfortunately, in this industry it's rare. My mission is to change minds and prove that I’m highly capable of working my way up the ladder at the same pace as anyone else. I’d love to see more mentorship and a push for diversity in higher positions within the ad industry.

If you could give advice to people starting out in the industry what would it be?

Lex: Do that “thing” you think is “a dumb idea”, write that book, create that installation, email that brand, shoot your shot and don’t ask for permission. You are your best advocate and only you know what you’re truly capable of. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Take indecisiveness as a no and take no’s and a not right now. And above all be kind, stay true to yourself and have fun, ; we’re all just big kids that have to pay for health insurance, debts and mortgages.

Chanel: The nervousness is only temporary and if you let that stop you from applying yourself, you’re never going to accomplish anything. Push boundaries even when you think it’s risky.