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

Alexis, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think it takes to be successful?

I think we all wish there were a magic formula for success — but honestly, that would make life way too boring. There are so many factors that shape the journey: where you start, what resources you have, and most importantly, how you define success. No matter what the roadmap looks like, though, I believe one thing is essential for anyone to cross that finish line: curiosity.

Curiosity is what kickstarted my story. I started college thinking I’d one day work in the medical space — doctor, medical sales, audiology, something along those lines. After four years of studying and two years working in the field, I realized it wasn’t for me. I was managing an audiology clinic in Los Angeles, working in hearing device sales, when I first felt that “spark.” Many of my patients were retired industry folks — producers, directors, film crew, musicians — and hearing their stories piqued my interest in the entertainment world.

I realized I needed to make a change, but I wasn’t sure where to start. So, like any 23-year-old in the middle of a quarter-life crisis, I moved to Europe. I spent two years in Spain traveling, teaching English, and freelancing in marketing and social media to fund my adventures. As my visa neared its expiration, I knew it was time to head home — but I also knew I wasn’t going back to healthcare. This was my shot to pursue a career in media and entertainment.

I applied everywhere — film studios, record labels, podcast companies. It was exhausting and daunting, but after dozens of applications, a few interviews, and a lot of rejection emails, I finally heard back from iHeartMedia. I started as a digital marketing strategist for the iHeartPodcast Network. About a year in, that curiosity crept back in. I loved what I was doing but wanted to be even closer to the podcasts and talent I was recommending to advertisers. I asked around internally, snagged an interview for the Talent Operations team, and that’s where I am today!

I absolutely love what I do, and I attribute every step of getting here to curiosity — the willingness to ask questions, chase new passions, and trust that even the detours were part of getting me where I was meant to be.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m currently a Senior Manager of Podcast Pre-Sale Operations & Talent Vetting at iHeartMedia. My journey into media wasn’t exactly a straight line — I actually started in the healthcare space, working in medical sales before realizing my real passion was in entertainment. After spending a few years living and freelancing in Spain, I came back to the U.S. determined to break into the media space, and found my way into the world of podcasting.

Now, I help connect iHeart’s podcasts and talent with brands through custom podcast partnerships (branded episodes, segments, live events, social extensions, etc.), working across teams to bring creative ideas to life. Curiosity, collaboration, and a love for storytelling are at the heart of everything I do. More than anything, I’m passionate about building authentic partnerships that feel right for the talent, the advertisers, and the listeners.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One of the biggest tests of resilience in my journey was starting completely from scratch when I decided to pivot into media. For years, I had studied and prepared for a career in the medical space — I earned dual degrees in psychology and communication sciences, managed a hearing clinic, and built a clear, stable path for myself. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t the right fit.

Making the decision to walk away from everything I had worked toward wasn’t easy. It meant letting go of a career I had invested years into and stepping into an industry — media and entertainment — where I had no formal background, no connections, and no clear roadmap. I had to be willing to start at the bottom, to re-learn, to network from scratch, and to face a lot of rejection along the way.

I think true resilience is about trusting yourself even when there’s no guaranteed outcome. It’s about being willing to bet on your curiosity, your work ethic, and your ability to figure things out as you go.

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

A big lesson I had to unlearn was that success has to follow a straight line. Growing up, I believed that if you worked hard, picked the “right” career early, and stuck to the plan, you’d naturally find success and fulfillment. I spent years preparing for a career and doing everything I thought I was supposed to do — only to realize once I got there that it wasn’t the right fit for me.

Unlearning that rigid idea of success was scary. It meant accepting that changing paths wasn’t a failure — it was growth. It meant giving myself permission to pivot, explore new industries, and take risks without having everything mapped out perfectly. Moving into media and entertainment — starting from scratch with no formal background — taught me that careers aren’t linear and that fulfillment often comes from being flexible, curious, and willing to trust yourself through the unknown.

Looking back, I’m grateful I let go of the idea that life has to follow a checklist. Some of the best opportunities I’ve had came from trusting the detours.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alemagoo/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ammagill/