Selena Shannon
United Talent Agency
Studio City, CA USA
"Keep getting up and keep striving for what you want. Stick to your purpose."
Career Roadmap
Selena's work combines: Business, Film, and Working with Others
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Film and Television Production
Loyola Marymount University
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
Growing up, I was a very artistic and creative child—I was very involved in performing arts.
2.
In high school, I was frustrated with being typecast and was struggling to figure out where I fit in, until a teacher gave me an opportunity to take a film class and create my own story.
3.
I was inspired by that experience, and decided to study film and television production at Loyola Marymount University.
4.
While in college, I was very involved with Black inclusion initiatives and groups, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and Sisters in Solidarity.
5.
After graduating, I took a lot of temporary jobs in order to feel out the industry and get a better understanding of what felt right to me.
6.
As I gained work experience, I made it a point to seek out opportunities in the HR and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) spaces.
7.
I currently work as an inclusion and HR assistant at United Talent Agency, which combines my DEI work with my interest in entertainment.
8.
I’m also pursuing a master’s degree in human resource management because I want to make sure I’m a well-rounded individual in this profession.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Teachers:
You need to follow the standard format on this project.
How I responded:
In one of my film classes, my teacher gave me a project and expected me to follow the standard guidelines, which wouldn't leave any room for diversity and different perspectives. I decided to flip the project and proceed in a more inclusive way. If something isn't right, don't be afraid to question it. There will always be room to grow and improve standards.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I have hearing loss, which made it really difficult to pass my recording classes in college. I didn't want to tell my professors because I'm a perfectionist. I eventually realized that it's okay to ask for help when you need it.
While working as an RA in college, one of my students passed away. It hit me hard and I shut down. I stopped taking care of myself and ended up being fired as an RA. I got counseling to help me out of that low point.