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

Erin, appreciate you joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

In elementary school, my parents started a light and sound system company called Electric Ear Productions. The name came from my father’s discotheque side gig during the 1970s. Throughout my childhood, especially during the summers, you would find me backstage at concerts and events, as my father was hands-on with the sound and lighting boards while my mom was making sure their services were being paid for and handling all the necessary paperwork as entrepreneurs.

The Electric Ear went on tours with Reba McEntire and Juan Luis Guerra, plus several shows with George Strait and too many to count gigs with other country and rock artists. Some of my favorite memories are being at Austin’s Aqua Fest as a kid. From my unique childhood view, I saw the work artists put into their craft as musicians and performers, the efforts of everyone backstage that makes shows happen, and the challenges my parents went through by owning a business in the highly competitive entertainment market.

I also saw the wins, the importance of working hard, and what it meant to build something that’s never existed before from the ground up. I was proud of them when they sold the Electric Ear because they decided it was time. To be in business for decades, weathering all the ups and downs, and successfully selling is a fantastic accomplishment. Their experiences taught me a lot about perseverance and the necessity of being adaptable.

Erin, 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 the founder of GirlsThatCreate.com – a digital space for parents and caregivers who want to support and nurture girls dreaming of pursuing artistic careers. As a communications major, I was introduced to the documentary Killing Us Softly, which looks at images of women in advertising, gender stereotypes, the effects of advertising on women’s self-image, and the objectification of women’s bodies. That viewing sparked my interest in female representation in mainstream media and inspired my pursuit of a graduate degree in gender studies and international development. And it got me thinking more and more about who determines what stories are shared, what is shown, and how those sitting at the table, making these choices, have been traditionally male.

In 2012 I was fortunate to partner up with two notable filmmakers, Kristy Guevara-Flanagan and Kelcey Edwards, and became an Executive Producer for the award-winning documentary WONDER WOMEN! The Untold Story of American Superheroines. It traces the fascinating evolution and legacy of Wonder Woman while also examining the portrayal of powerful women in mass media and why representation matters.

WONDER WOMEN! had its national broadcast on Independent Lens | PBS, and I felt things were moving forward, especially with the release of the first Wonder Woman feature film EVER in 2017 (seriously, think about how many Superman and Batman standalone feature films there were before Wonder Woman finally got one).

By 2019 I had two daughters of my own. One day I came across 2018 research data from The Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film that found women comprised just 4 percent of directors working on the top 100 films, 8 percent on the top 250 films, and 15 percent on the top 500 films. A little more digging made me realize this underrepresentation of women in mainstream work was occurring across all artistic fields, not just film.

I was mad and mulled over what I could do in my small corner of the universe with a strong communications background. That’s when it occurred to me to go back to the beginning. Girls who are interested in art careers should be supported as much as their sister counterparts who love STEM.

Let me be clear, the movement to close the gender gaps in STEM has been incredible, and I absolutely applaud the work (one of my kiddos is STEM oriented). But although more people see the value of adding an A for art to STEM, making it STEAM, that’s still not happening often enough.

So, what if I create a site that focuses on creativity, what it means to raise a girl right now, and one that highlights the inspiring careers of women creatives so girls can see what possibilities exist? From those questions came Girls That Create, which went live in 2019. The site provides parenting resources for raising creative girls while also encouraging greater female representation across the arts. More recently, the Girls That Create podcast was launched in partnership with Word of Mom Radio as a show about parenting, creativity, and helping the next generation of creators become who they want to be.

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.

At some point in my career, I realized interviewing people is what I enjoy most about writing (and it turns out podcasting). But I get that with so many distractions today, sitting down for an extended chat with someone might feel torturous unless it’s part of a job. Yet I encourage everyone to take the time to ask and learn people’s stories. And listen. Listen, listen, listen. I sometimes struggle with that in day-to-day encounters, but if you can give someone the space to share their thoughts, there’s a good chance you’ll be surprised by what they say. The last few years have definitely shown us that humans need connection. And not just telling but hearing others’ stories plays a huge role.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Over the past two decades, every person in the communication field has had to pivot. Whether it’s the introduction of smartphones, the recession, the rise of social media, the decline in print and cable, SEO, streaming, the pandemic, and now AI, communication professionals of all ages have pivoted so many times everyone is about to pretzel themselves off the Twister board. And it can feel scary, exhausting, and too much of a roller coaster ride for many. At the same, change is inevitable. You have to find a different path forward if something no longer works. Or even let something go. And there will likely, inevitably, be times when you have to make business decisions you’re not crazy about. The key is to see them as a snag in your unique career thread. Keep moving forward, learning, and connecting. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. And if you can assist someone who is in a pivot, do so.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.girlsthatcreate.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girls_that_create/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/girlsthatcreate/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinpratherstafford/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@girlsthatcreate

Image Credits
First photo by Coco and Peanut Photography Girls That Create logo designed by Laura Castillo