We were lucky to catch up with Andrea Davis recently and have shared our conversation below.

Andrea, appreciate you joining us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

It’s my greatest hope to be of help and encouragement to women, to be a validation and sounding board that resonates, “You are worthy of care and relief.”
I hope to be remembered for supporting women entrepreneurs through the uniquely defined experiences we face as business owners.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My journey into the advertising and production space has been one of piecemealing my opportunities, yet I’ve always known my place to be behind the scenes supporting others.

When I was younger and discovered an occupation called literary agent, it seemed like a calling. I read books written by authors who created amazing stories. They needed advocates to get their stories to an audience and a wider world. I wanted to be that advocate. However some intentions went wonky and I ended up securing a degree in Economics instead.

Yet my passion continued to turn towards story and supporting creators. After I volunteered and ultimately served as producer on a documentary about the surviving victims of a serial killer, I found my true north. A place for my problem solving and listening skills, a place to exercise patience, tenacity, synergy and advocacy could all fall under the umbrella of producer. As a producer I could run forward, knock out the hard parts and clear a path for creativity to thrive.

As a copywriter I help clients share their belief in their product or service. I’m very much a student of Mary Wells Lawrence, the first woman CEO on the NYSE and the first woman to own a national advertising agency. She surmised the power of persuasion lives in the everyday, the simple and in the relatable. This is how I approach copy and all forms of writing. What people want most is to be understood. I write for that purpose.

Potential clients should know my writing experience comes from years of advertising work for tv and radio, producing such content as 30 second commercial scripts, short-form promotionals and spotlight segments for business owners. I’m most proud of having run my own advertising agency, staffed with fellow colleagues whose creativity afforded an incredible amount of synergy. I learned much about the importance of optimism through adversity. Running my own ad agency is also where I learned how to support other women entrepreneurs. Women have a different set of challenges and connotations around our skill sets and abilities. We must have a space to share our fears and vulnerabilities. Women enjoy a better chance at success when we support each other and share our truths.

Whether as a writer or producer, my goal is to create a memorable story. Stories nurture connections and foster the emotional impact of our human experiences. Whether through scriptwriting, website content, sales pages or ad copy, my brand still harkens back to my childhood desire to advocate for story.

Have you ever had to pivot?

To shift gears from running an advertising agency, I relocated to Las Vegas where I quickly located an established community in film/tv and advertising. After working for a year, I was recommended to NFL Films to serve as a production assistant. It was a welcome transition and a step I was willing to make. NFL Films produced brilliant sports documentaries. I wanted the opportunity to produce within the scope of this arena. I worked most every project I was offered. I put in the hours, paid my dues and was content to wait for my opportunity to be promoted to the role of assistant producer.

However when the covid pandemic hit, not only did production work cease but so did much of my opportunity to advance in my career. Within the same year, I became a caregiver for my disabled mother and both my daughter and husband suffered psychotic breaks stemming from undiagnosed mental health disorders. Suddenly twelve to eighteen hour production days were no longer possible. My priorities had to shift. While I worried about what I might be leaving behind as I transitioned to full-time caregiver of three family members, I understood there was no greater priority than the health and well-being of my family.

Being forced to pivot away from my goals and expectations was a disappointment I struggled to process. My desire to write and produce wasn’t going away, yet neither was my new normal. Eventually I returned to work as a content producer. Though my day-to-day is no longer fueled by large-scale productions or live events, I enjoy working with Mom & Pop businesses, upcoming artists and local nonprofits to meet their advertising needs. I’m also pouring more hours into a recently created podcast called Good Girl Online, where I discuss caregiving and societal expectations.

I’m truly thankful for mental wellness and identifying a way to still produce meaningful work.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Earlier in my creative journey, I wish I would have harnessed the power of referrals, especially from those who were no longer in the industry. People leave careers and pivot for all sorts of reasons. However it doesn’t mean their insight and connections have deteriorated. Talking with others, listening to their advice, their experiences and then asking for their help – whether it be an introduction to a colleague or a contact within a business organization – is a resource I wish I would’ve understood sooner. I was afraid to look like I needed help. The truth is, recognizing and accepting help is the most cost effective resources a person can have.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thegoodgirlonline.com
• Other: Spotify – The Good Girl Online podcast
  Bluesky – @azenobia.bsky.social

Image Credits

All image credits belong to myself