Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Fabienne Roc. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Fabienne , thanks for 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.

I’ve been working as a Creative Director in the entertainment industry for the last few years. While I’ve loved it, anyone who is paying attention right now knows it’s not the best time for creatives. There are so many layoffs, strikes, and pivots within the industry — it’s become pretty shaky and uncertain like many other industries who are feeling it too.

When COVID hit, the time really pushed people to look beyond their careers, accolades, and surface-level things. Questions like “Who are you outside of your career/job?” were very loud during those three years, and I think a lot of people began looking within to find those answers or at least had a curiosity spark.

I personally went through my own transitional time in 2020 that brought me to Reiki and realized the absolute necessity of paying attention to and regulating one’s own nervous system. I learned how it affected me and it affected those around me. I learned how easily I absorbed others whose energies were off, too. This is when I realized Reiki would be an essential tool for me for my spiritual hygiene. Once I began practicing it every day, I realized this could also be a great tool for others, and continued my education to become a practitioner.

I launched mused. as a platform to connect with others who may be seeking something similar as well as for those who were just open to something new. The idea behind mused. was birthed from my own realization that I didn’t need to seek validation from others and that I could look within to find everything that I was looking for to feel “whole”… that I already had everything that I needed.

A few years passed of this work, the world began to open again, and I was able to comfortably go back to in-person classes. I was able to start practicing yoga again and even as someone who has practiced for 10+ years, the more often I began to go the more I felt an even deeper connection to it than I had before. I incorporated it into my weekly routine, and soon into my daily routine. Especially after I was laid off in September 2022, and I went from making over 140K a year to no severance and unemployment. I was devastated because I felt like I had finally hit a mark in my career that I had been working towards and was in a role where I could really allow my skillset to shine, do great work, and impact the cuture. I had felt like I had been knocked down with no warning. However, my layoff was surrounded by a handful of other layoffs, brilliant creatives also being put out of work. While slightly comforting, it was also scary. Like, what is really going on?

In my free time, I kept busy. Open to freelance work I also took the time to take a step back. Thankfully the prior years I had been really working on my mental wellness and was in a great place because of the tools and intention I was leading with in my life. I started going to more yoga classes and just found myself so grateful for movement and community in that space. I then decided, that becoming a yoga teacher would be a great way to deepen my personal practice, and also hopefully bring it to others who may need the same outlet in the same way I did. After many, many “no’s” from job applications and final interviews, I knew it was the right time to pursue my 200RYT. I was basically granted the time, as I was already pushing 6-months unemployed. It was a sign.

I completed my 200 Yoga Teacher Training in Isle Mujeres, Mexico and it truly changed my life. It felt like destiny that I took the leap and invested in the program with the time and funds I had. I was certain I made the right choice and the vision became super clear with the intention: bring yoga to more individuals as an addition to offer to their mental wellness toolbox.

A a 3-year resident in Dallas, originally from New York, I’ve grown to love the potential and brewing energy of this city. There’s so much opportunity here, and so many people eager and willing to launch something new and cool. I’ve always wanted to have a creative space where like-minded creatives and souls could come together, fellowship, create, heal, laugh, cry, rest — all of the things that us in or natural form really evolve in. These are the events I used to create back home in NY, and this is my intention in creating for the community of Dallas. So, trading in my apartment for a loft where I can activate this space in this way is my latest “leap.” Offering the space as a place for yoga, meditation, community, fellowship, and unique experience is something that I hope for people to connect with, lean on, and utilize.

While the risk is fresh and feels a bit uncertain, I’m leaning on the faith that I’ve been brought to this point to only succeed. And I’m excited for what is to grow from these planted seeds.

Fabienne , 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’m a limitless creative with a background in experiential event and tv production. I am a storyteller. I am a music enthusiast and a bad-ass DJ. I’m also an intuitive energy reader, offering reiki sessions, meditation guidance, and yoga to all beings. I am intentional with my time and who I work with. I am an advocate for nervous system regulation, health, and mental wellness.

As a creative director and writer/producer, I have had really dope opportunities to tell stories of the underserved and underrepresented. Black stories and voices are my priority, as my Haitian-American culture is extremely important to me. I began my career in events in the culinary and entertainment space and grew into production over the course of 10 years. I’ve worked with countless brands and companies such as Essence, Hulu, Verizon, Nike, Netflix, Starz, Paramount+, Pinterest, and more. I’ve written on a project that won 2x Webby Awards.

I bring authenticity to the forefront of marketing and 360 campaigns. People hire me because my point of view is so unique, and I work from a place of inclusivity, compassion, and good taste. I’m a solid representation of a Millennial but I can speak to any audience in various forms of art (words, video, photo, digital). I love mentorship and believe in community. I run towards puzzles and try to solve them with a good attitude and smart thinking.

I create from an egoless place. Let’s just create really dope art!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

When I started my first creative job — meaning a job where I was being paid for my point of view and ideas to make things — I absolutely always thought my ideas were the best and those who didn’t feel that way didn’t know what they were talking about or didn’t have the creative range/taste. Ha! I soon realized the art of emotionally detaching from the things you create, especially for other people (when it is not yours!) when creating brand campaigns and generating big ideas is beyond just the art of it all.

Sometimes it’s about the nature and success of the business, the budget, the consumer, and *then* the art as an idea. Once I was able to release the emotional attachment to receiving pushback or just straight-up “no’s” for my ideas, I became a better creative. I learned how to pivot, listen better, and be smarter. I also learned, most importantly, that I will never run out of ideas. An idea not accepted today could be accepted tomorrow. Or an idea not liked today can be tweaked and refined to be liked tomorrow. It’s all a part of the process. I know we’re artists and we’re “sensitive about our ****” but checking that ego I have learned will bring you better and bigger checks! And more internal peace.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

As a reiki practitioner and yoga teacher, I believe there never really is a ‘mastery’ point. I don’t consider myself a “healer” I consider myself just a guide in these spaces. I’m forever a student in these realms, continuously working on being better, learning more, and being open to meeting new teachers that can also guide me to my better purpose, higher self, and to be a better teacher. There’s no competition with others.

Another thing– this space has offered me perspective on perfectionism. Even before I began DJing in 2016, I learned the art of just starting and not waiting for things to be “perfect” so much that I never begin. Getting out of your own way is key in all creative disciplines. Offering yourself grace, and mainly credit for showing up is huge. The internal dialogue of not being over-critical of yourself. All of these things, that also aid with regulating one’s own nervous system are major major steps to showing up and showing out in the best way possible for you and for others.

Contact Info:

• Website: fabrocpresents.com
• Instagram: @fab_roc_
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/fabienneroc
• Other: vimeo.com/fabienneroc

Image Credits
Yoga shoot (headshot and seated) image credits are: Karl Ferguson @karlfergusonjr