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

Marenda, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

In my role as a Marketing Specialist at a public library, I have the privilege of sharing the organization’s story through digital media. This often involves sharing the stories of community members who use the library’s resources, and as a result I’ve connected with several people who have inspired me. I’ve shared stories featuring musicians who use the library’s recording studio to produce music, a local author who writes at the library, talented artists who paint captivating murals, and one of the library’s most enchanting branch locations. What’s meaningful about these projects is that it’s caused me to shift my perspective on creating content. When I started my own Instagram blog in 2021, the focus was on myself and growing in my own self confidence. Learning about the unique and creative work that others do has inspired me and made me realize I want to share more stories. There are so many ways to express yourself, share your passions, and connect your work to your purpose which I’m glad to have learned through my work with others.

Marenda, 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?

Hi! I’m Marenda. I’m an ISFJ, Bolivian-American, Michigander, audiobook lover, and I also enjoy creating content and sharing stories. Professionally, I work for a public library where I do social media and digital content work.

This is actually my second career. I used to work in Higher Education as an academic advisor up until August 2022. During the pandemic I was asked to do communication and social media work for my local church; I loved sharing my life on social media so it seemed like a perfect fit for me. Then in 2021 I started a small Instagram blog @marendas.lookbook and began growing my confidence by putting myself out there and expressing myself creatively. Around this time I started reflecting on how I wished I could do something more creative career-wise. I started taking my Instagram blog more seriously and started taking on brand collaborations and learning from other creators (shoutout to The Content Creatives podcast). I created content with friends and by myself with my tripod in my free time, and slowly built up a portfolio on my account. I was still working as an academic advisor but decided to join my department’s marketing, branding, and communications committee to learn and share my expertise. In the Spring of 2022, I enrolled in a Digital Media Certificate through Michigan State University’s College of Communication, Arts, and Sciences, where I took classes in areas that truly interested me, such as branding, content creation, and digital media strategy. Looking back, I guess you can see how much I really wanted this.
During the spring/summer of 2022, I started applying to new jobs (shamelessly putting ‘content creator’ on my resume) with the promise that I would only look for opportunities that would allow me to work with social media and be creative. Finally, in August 2022, I started my new position as a Marketing Specialist at the St. Joe County Public Library where I now get to create and work with digital content, social media, and *finally* make reels for work.

On my own Instagram blog @marendas.lookbook, I share fashion and lifestyle content, beautifully edited media, as well as reflections on life and growth. I value authenticity and try to create a space where I can share things that inspire me and hopefully inspire others. I’m proud to have created a genuine and authentic audience including both fellow content creators and people I’ve connected with in real life.
What sets my work apart (personally and professionally) is that I put a lot of thought into producing quality content, and pursue work that aligns with my values. I want my work to have purpose, and inspire positivity and growth. I love sharing stories and beyond sharing my own, I look forward to sharing the stories of the amazing brands, creatives, and organizations that are making a positive impact.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

A year ago I made a pretty big career pivot from working in Higher Education, the field I went to school for, to now working in Marketing/Communications. My parents are immigrants and have always valued education and hard work. With their support I got my Master’s in Higher Education from the University of Michigan by the age of 23, and eventually got a steady job as an Academic Advisor at Michigan State University. A couple years into this role, I started reflecting and thinking about how I wished I could do something more creative and social media-related for a career. I was really enjoying the work I was doing for my Instagram blog and everything that I was learning and pushing myself to do as a result. For a while, I thought it was a silly idea, and that it was too late for me to start over and do something new. However, I also realized I was no longer happy where I was at, and this feeling is what propelled my pivot the most. I had an extremely supportive supervisor who heard me out and offered encouragement as I explored options outside my job and field. He actually introduced me to the Digital Media Certificate, encouraged me to learn how to edit content for my unit’s webpage, and served as a reference for my certificate application and new job.

I put a lot of work into the career pivot including being open to learning and putting myself out there. By the time I interviewed for the Marketing position I now have, I had started believing more in myself and the expertise I could bring to the table. I finished the Digital Media certificate by April 2023, eight months after I started the new job. Prior to my career pivot I felt very underqualified for the positions I wanted due to my lack of education in my desired field. I didn’t consider all the work I had done and skills I’d developed, such as photo and video editing and managing brand collaborations. There is much, much more I can learn as a creator and a professional. However, for anyone else hoping to pivot, I think there is also much to be said about the skills you already have been cultivating for so long. Looking back, I am glad to have taken a chance on something I truly wanted, rather than staying in something that was no longer for me. I still consider this the beginning of my creative journey and plan to continue learning and growing more each year.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Finding community and working with others has been the best part of my creative journey. In my professional work at the library, I’ve been inspired by local creatives and community members who have shared their stories with me. I’ve been encouraged by bloggers and content creatives I’ve connected with on Instagram who share similar interests with me. I’m also extremely grateful to friends who have helped me create content over the past few years and who have supported my goals at every stage.    

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @marendas.lookbook
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/marenda-escobar/
• TikTok: tiktok.com/@marendita