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

Nesli, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made (either in terms of time or money)? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

Best investment is an investment in yourself, whether it’s learning new skills or working on becoming a healthier and happier version of yourself! Return on Investment (ROI) doesn’t only apply to finance. If you invest in yourself consistently and persistently, you will benefit from many different types of ROIs: character ROI; professional ROI; emotional and physical wellbeing ROI and the list goes on…

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

I’ve always strived to make a living while making a difference and in the last 15 years of my time in Los Angeles (can’t believe it’s been this long, time flies when you are having a good time), I have been using my communication and marketing skills to benefit a multitude of nonprofits and companies through grant proposals and various events including galas, festivals, movie premieres and golf tournaments.

Currently, I work at the iconic American Film Institute (AFI) and handle their institutional giving -which is perfect because I see myself as a storyteller and working hand in hand with (and to benefit) visual storytellers from all walks if life is such a dream come true for me.

All these experiences have been phenomenal so far and they continue to contribute immensely to my growth, but I always knew that I wanted to do more.

That’s why I started the City of Angels with Nesli during the pandemic which is a magazine-style blog that aspires to explore the City of Angels through my column and various interviews with an eclectic group of Angelenos, miracle creator nonprofits and small businesses from all industries who do marvelous work in LA – in a way highlighting the “angels” of Los Angeles. It is a byproduct of my multi-cultural perspective and provides a bilingual platform with options in English and Turkish. The concept is similar to what CanvasRebel does but my blog is penned from a more individual point-of-view, perhaps with a little bit more of a “Turkish Carrie Bradshaw with a philanthropic edge” approach.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

To encourage and inspire others (including myself) through stories.

Many of us bring much more value than we think. The majority of people around me don’t realize how much they know or they have done throughout their lives and careers simply because they don’t sit down and think about them. When we take the time to list everything, they are amazed at themselves and their “little” but “collectively big” accomplishments.

As Henry Ford said “whether you think you can do it or not, you are right” and I simply want to show my readers and interviewees that they can. It’s all about perseverance and believing in yourself and your vision. Every small thing matters: volunteering at a nonprofit matters; your brainstorming sessions with your co-workers matter; your chat with your neighbor before your morning walk matters; the short story that you wrote (without showing it to anyone yet) matters. All these interactions and activities build out who you are and every minor thing contributes to your life –whether you realize it or not. Everything is interconnected and they are your guide in the long term.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Showing that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. Everyone we meet is an expert in something that we don’t know much about. All people deserve “publicity” and that’s why I started this magazine-style blog – – to give a well-deserved shout-out to LA’s hidden treasures and talents. Discovering other people’s stories and strengths is also fascinating in the sense that it provides us with distinctive tools to understand our own journeys better.

Most LA blogs that I follow usually cover the city through restaurants, shops, museums or other similar experiences, and I wanted to create a more organic and journalism-style blog to explore our exciting city through its biggest asset: the mosaic of diverse people and organizations that make up LA.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cityofangelswithnesli.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cityofangelswithnesli/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cityofangelswithnesli
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl3tdM44yrsSWodb1j3IDOQ