Photo magic by Jason Guy.
The Short Story
- Michelle Bushneff here, a digital creative focused on authentic, progressive storytelling that drives engagement, connection and growth. Head to LinkedIn for the chronology of my unconventional career path.
- I’ve been behind-the-scenes building online communities, content platforms, social media campaigns, and influencer programs for more than a decade. (In social media years, that’s really old.)
- My entrepreneurial spirit leads me to start-ups and small companies in emerging markets. I love to pioneer, innovate, ride the waves of change and get shit done.
- In 2014 I broke up with my comfort zone and launched BIGthinkster Lab to serve like-minded businesses, brands and indie talent.
The Backstory
Community is Core. Before blogging took off and content management systems popped up on every virtual street corner, I hired a developer to create a content management system that allowed me to manage submissions and run monthly writing competitions for an online community of preteen and young teen girls. I was their publisher, editor-in-chief and illustrator, offering a safe place that nurtured creativity and ignited learning through their passion for animals. Then WordPress came along, and in 2006 I launched my first blog with a variety of programs that attracted a vibrant, global audience of young (and not-so-young) readers, authors and artists.
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself
in the service of others. ―Mahatma Gandhi
Content is Queen. I got hooked on personal publishing and social media, and dove in head first. The current led me to Athleta in 2007. Above and beyond my “day job” as ecommerce producer and digital marketing manager, I was empowered to conceive and launch social channels for the brand, starting with the blog and expanding from there. I also took on athlete sponsorships and created a program to elevate phenomenal, influential women who ranged in age from fourteen to ninenty-four. Where other companies were building blogs to talk about the company, Athleta’s blog was distinctive, powered by the voice of the customer and conceived with a simple mission: to serve and inspire fitness-minded women with meaningful content.
In October 2014, I took the leap from Athleta to work with a range of brands who are fearlessly exploring the new media and marketing frontier where content and community drive connection, engagement and growth.
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve:
the fear of failure.” ―Paulo Coelho
Creativity is Oxygen. After years of building digital communities and blogs for others, it’s time I created a place of my own to connect with others who are passionate about authentic, progress storytelling in marketing and media. I’m perpetually curious and experimental, so you’re likely to see a diverse range of blog topics that reflect the intersection of my life and lively-hood.
Cheers, Michelle
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