We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Fadwa Ward. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Fadwa below.

Hi Fadwa, thanks for joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I believe it takes treating people well, being confident in what you are saying, and sticking to you gut are things it takes to be successful.

I have been on hundreds of sets and highly prioritize how I am treating everyone around me. I’ve been on both sides as the creative/crew and the producer/client to know that people will remember how you made them feel. That in turn will result in if they want to work with you again. I’ve had people turn down higher paying projects to work on something I am doing because they know I’m going to look out for them.

The same thing goes for trusting your gut and being confident. I’ve learned to tell myself that the rooms I walk into have space for me and that posture creates a shift in how I perceive myself and my ability to retain and attract new jobs.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

You are never actually stuck. I think it’s okay to do something new even if it doesn’t “look” like what you thought it would. Maybe that means going on a trip by yourself, signing up for a hobby you’ve been wanting to try, going back to school, or watching youtube videos to learn a new skillset. I’ve gotten more comfortable saying “yes” even when I might not 100% know what I’m doing because it pushes me to learn and ask questions.

That’s how I fell into freelance, I just kept saying yes (and no when my gut told me to) and it lead me to where I am today. But I am always open to new things, new roles, new crews, new places. In order to move forward we have to get comfortable with change. m

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Oh man, this may sound outdated but word of mouth is still the way I make most of my income. I don’t create reels, I’m not on TikTok, and don’t even get me started on how often I actually post on instagram hahaha. I focus on relationships with existing clients and they always come back. Sometimes that’s just taking them out for coffee to catch up, or letting an agency I’ve worked with know that I sincerely appreciate them and am happy to continue a partnership for future work which in turn becomes them recommending me to other companies/projects!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fadwaward.com/
• Instagram: @fadwaaaa
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/fadwa-ward