We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ferrell Marshall a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ferrell, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

During the turmoil of the Great Recession of 2008-2009, I chose to leave my safe, predictable, and lucrative 20+ year career at PricewaterhouseCoopers to pursue my creative endeavors. Granted, timing could have been better but the truth was that I had been promoted into a role that was not a good fit. I was working stressful 70+ hour weeks and no matter how hard I worked, I felt like a failure and ended most days in tears. This went on for three years when finally, after much soul searching and profound conversations with my now late husband, George, who was my biggest fan, I made the decision to LEAP! It was surreal and scary. Who would I be if I did not have a title, salary and a 401K?!

Funny how the Universe rewards you when you stop resisting for within one week of leaving, I booked an international commercial for HP. This was followed by booking two more commercials in quick succession. These were the days when you could make a lot of money working one day on set. I was also hired to do a part-time HR gig rewriting the performance evaluation process for an infamous social network company focused on music. This work gave me the confidence to go freelance utilizing my corporate experience which in turn gave me the flexibility to pursue being an actor, VO artist, painter and launching a presentation coaching business.

Ferrell, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a Storyteller. Actor. Coach. Writer. Painter. Elephant Enthusiast. Dog lover. Surprised Cat Lady. Amateur Gardener. Dwelling in Possibility.

I was born in Albuquerque, N.M. and grew up in San Antonio, TX. I am the baby of seven, yet an only child. (A story for another time.) At the age of five, I declared that I was going to be an actress like Susan Hayward. I performed in my first play at the age of six playing the pivotal role – at least in my young starlit eyes – of an elf in Santa’s workshop and have been acting ever since. Throughout my young education I performed in school and community plays, did some modeling and local commercials, became President of the Drama Club and was voted Most Talented. Much to my mom’s disappointment, I chose not to go to college but to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts West. Upon graduation, I took on several jobs from sweeping hair at a salon, being a hostess at a nice prime rib restaurant and working retail and auditioned whenever I could. I realized that I was not very good at playing the role of starving artist. I then decided to go to the Jo Blasco School of Makeup and was the first makeup artist for Movietime which would later become E! Entertainment. For some reason I thought I would forge relationships that would lead to acting jobs, but the truth was I was only seen as a member of the crew. I was living on soup and popcorn and needed to find a better solution on how to pay my bills. Thank goodness my mother had me take typing and with my skill of 80 words a minute, I landed a job as the Junior Secretary to the Partner in Charge at Price Waterhouse. They tabulated the Academy Awards, so I was connected in a small way to the industry. It was not a glamorous job as I spent my days answering the phone, filing and making coffee. As soon as I began, I wanted to quit but my mom was losing her battle with ovarian cancer and this job eased her worry about her baby living alone in Los Angeles. My master plan was to leave after she transitioned but it would be 23 years later which included a break in service working 3 years at United Way of Greater Los Angeles before I fully honored my dream. Although I did not have a college degree, I was given an extraordinary education working for some amazing leaders who taught me Human Resources, Marketing and Social Responsibility. I was given the opportunity to work with the audit team and even scheduled the team that counted the ballots, became a national trainer on company culture, served on national and international committees, launched numerous community service programs and worked directly with some of the top philanthropists in LA. All the while dashing to auditions and performing at night. I worked very hard in both my careers, but my professional business role offered me a clear ladder that matched my effort while acting offered a joyful creative playground framed with the heartache of rejection.

Throughout my corporate career, I downplayed my acting as actors as we were perceived as not being reliable and unprofessional. But then when I joined United Way as the new VP of Major Gifts, I managed the Women’s Leaders Group chaired by Joanne Hale. Joanne was from Boston with fiery red hair and a personality to match. She was married to Western film star and country musician, Monte Hale, and they were instrumental in establishing what is now the Autry National Center with Joanne serving as the Founding President. When I was introduced to her, my boss mentioned that I was an actor and I blushed and quickly changed the subject. Nothing got past Joanne and she asked me why I did not boldly lead with this wonderful fact. She told me that being an actor made me a stronger leader and charismatic communicator and to always celebrate this fact. It was the first time I was proud of being an actor in a corporate setting and never hid behind my suit again. For this, I will always be grateful to her.

When I chose to go out on my own, I took my acting and corporate experience and launched Spotlight Coaching to help clients deliver dynamic and memorable presentations. I had the opportunity to join the Pasadena TEDx team and coached speakers. I also freelance as a Recruiter, Executive Resume Writer and interview coach.
As an actor, I was given the opportunity to do some wonderful projects including The Beauty Queen of Leenane (StageSceneLA Outstanding Performance Lead Actress and BroadwayWorld nomination for Best Lead Actress); the LA Premier of Enron (Stage Raw Award for Supporting Female and StageSceneLA Outstanding Performance Featured Actress) and the L.A. Premier of The End of It (Broadway World nomination for Best Featured Actress.)

I am most proud of co-producing and starring in the one woman show about Emily Dickinson, The Belle of Amherst by William Luce. Every experience and career choice that I had made up to that point prepared me to take on this project. A play I had wanted to do since I was a teenager. It proved to be the scariest thing I have ever done. Playing against type, I knew that I would never be cast in this role so, I pitched it to Sierra Madre Playhouse and they joined me in co-producing it in their charming venue. I hired an amazing award-winning director, Todd Nielsen, and crew and then set out to memorize two hours of dialogue. There was no safety net as I was all by myself on stage. I remind myself of this when I am feeling overwhelmed by a project because if I could do this, then I can do anything I set my mind to!

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I was 19 when I came to LA to pursue being an actress. I was shy and timid and wish I had hired a coach to help me understand that this is a business as well as how to maneuver through the minefield of rejection. But back then coaching for creatives was not as available or popular as it is now.

As a coach, I love working with clients on their creative and business journeys and offering them the support and tools to help them be successful!

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Throughout my creative journey, non-creatives have often described what I do as a hobby. I find this hurtful, and it takes my breath as this path is my life’s work. Granted, I have not had tremendous success but ever since that five-year-old declared her dream, I have been committed and continue to grow as an artist with each passing decade. I have studied and continue to do so with some of the best teachers in the industry, have performed on intimate and large stages and on numerous sets. I continually reimagine how to capture and delight an audience as styles and trends change. This is a calling and is my purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ferrellmarshall.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ferrellmarshall
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ferrell.marshall/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ferrellmarshall
• Other: COACHING: https://spotlightcoaching.com/ PROJECT I AM MOST PROUD OF: https://thebelleofamherstplay.com/

Image Credits
JMKLcreative John Dlugolecki