Laura Malin
Laura Malin is a consultant and coach in the entertainment and literary industries.
She tells us that, “I help creatives to get their projects ready and in the marketplace with my methodology “Welcome To Hollywood”.
In 1997 I started my consulting company, Malin Entertainment, that has a track record of incentivizing young women in the male-dominated business landscape of the entertainment business. I am a best-seller author with nine published books.”
What were your early years like? Could you share a bit about your life before you began your coaching journey?
As a single mother of two beautiful daughters, from the beginning of my career I knew I needed to have my own business in order to be the mother I wanted to be and also to become the professional I envisioned. It was tough to juggle everything, but it paid off.
My trajectory was not linear, but steady. I am Brazilian-born but went to high school in France where I took French Literature as my field of study. Then I majored in Journalism back in Rio de Janeiro and specialized in Writing and Screenwriting at UC Berkeley, in California. I don’t come from a family of money, so I had to work to pay for my studies as a journalist and screenwriter. So I started to consult in scripts before I graduated from college and I published my first romance when I was 29 years old (already had my daughters).
If I have a piece of advice for women out there is: do not give up. Keep pushing. As I said, things may not be linear, but the only way forward is through. The obstacle is the way.
Was there any turning point in your life that changed your journey? If so, what was it? Please tell us the backstory behind it.
Yes, many turning points. The first one was when I published my first book, I had no idea I could become a book author and it only happened because I offered my services for free to a book editor who later on asked if I had a manuscript – and I had. It happened very fast and opened the door to a career I had never dreamed of pursuing before.
The second big turning point was when my then husband and I split. I was 30 years old, had been married for 12 years, didn’t have my own bank account and was taking care of a one-year old and a three-year old. That was tough, but it forced me to think about the kind of career I wanted for myself. It quickly became clear that working as a Journalist or in the film/TV industry I would have to work long hours and hire help. As a consultant I could basically work from home and be present in my girls’ lives.
My third big turning point happened ten years ago when I decided to leave my home country of Brazil to relocate to California. Rio de Janeiro was too violent, I got a lot of anxiety and my career was stuck. As I had a long-standing relationship with Los Angeles, I moved with two girls, six suitcases and a temporary visa. I worked 24/7 to bring my company to the US, raising the girls without any family around. Ten years later I can say that this was the best decision ever.
Everyone faces unique challenges when starting an entrepreneurial journey. The most valuable lessons often come from understanding how these challenges are managed. Could you share the difficulties you’ve encountered and the strategies you’ve used to cope with them?
The biggest difficulty I was faced with was misogyny. Men with a lot of power disliking the fact that a woman like myself was trying to have the same right as them. Unfortunately I experienced multiple instances of sexual harassment that almost broke me to pieces – but also made me stronger.
The way I cope with power struggle with men is by surrounding myself with women (my team is 90% women-based at all times) and showing men that I thrive for a partnership society. I don’t want to be more, this is not a competition – it is all about having the same opportunities.
What impact do you feel you have been able to create with your work so far and how would you want to grow in the next few years?
Throughout the years I have trained dozens of young women to enter the entertainment industry through my internship program, hiring many of them from all around the world. But the biggest contributions have been helping add more content about the female perspective and experience to the film and TV industries. As a consultant I have clients that are looking for the next big film or TV series, and I have the privilege of bringing up strong female narratives to inspire more women. I am proud to have contributed to many discussions through books and audiovisual projects that I have consulted for.
Would you like to share with our aspiring young women entrepreneurs the changes you would like to see in the world if given the opportunity?
Opportunity is something half given and half taken. We have to be aware that it will not be given to us on a silver platter. Here are some tips on how to behave in order to change the world, beginning by change yourselves:
– Before being kind to one another, we need to be kinder to ourselves. So don’t forget to claim your achievements, starting with the small ones.
– Women are much more susceptible to shrinking into themselves in order to please others – and that is something that will not benefit you or other women. Do not shrink: expand!
– Community, Mentorship, Coaching and Sponsorship are key in a woman’s career. Don’t try to do it alone.
Women are increasingly becoming a powerful presence in workplaces worldwide, breaking through glass ceilings and reaching top leadership positions. What are your thoughts on women’s leadership today?
That we don’t need to impersonate a masculine behavior to get to the top. We can still be ourselves because at the end of the day, that is all we can really do. And yes, it is ok to be hormonal, be a CEO and a mother at the same time. It is ok to have bad days, to feel the pressure, to celebrate the small victories. We are the only ones who can give permission to ourselves to be who we are. There is no waiting for men to think we are fit, or to recognize our fantastic contribution to the workplace. It is just not going to happen. Be a leader and you will lead the way.
Your grit and determination are making a significant impact, serving as an inspiration for many aspiring entrepreneurs. What message would you like to share with our young women leaders and audience reading this?
In order to be a successful entrepreneur, everything you do (all the tasks, strategies, chores, clients, projects, financing, etc) needs to fall under one of the three following categories: DO, DELEGATE or DELETE. That is the recipe for success. That and consistency.