We were lucky to catch up with Rebecca Kochanek recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rebecca, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

My career has been woven with creative projects and collaborations, which have all shaped who I am as an individual and professional. I have an extensive history of creativity in many forms, including public speaking, writing, and visual creation. I’ve spent a decade exploring ways to be as well-rounded as possible as a creative person. All of that is to say that the most meaningful project that I have worked on is creating and launching a full-scale course on how to navigate burnout. At the time, I was in a management position with a nonprofit focused on restoration and healing from domestic abuse. Most of my role consisted of mentoring high school students and helping them discover the direction they wanted to go once they graduated. This project was something that I took on for myself because I wanted to explore my abilities deeper. This is my most meaningful project because it was one of the first big projects a supervisor trusted me with completely. I chose the topic of burnout because not many professionals are taught how to slow down and push back against hustle culture to take care of themselves and their families. The project consisted of research, visual design, copywriting, and voicing over the course to be engaging with an audience. It stretched me creatively and professionally and showed me that I am capable of putting out content that makes a difference. I went on to mentor each of my high school students in creating their own courses and closely collaborated with their visions. To this day, this course is being used by small teams and nonprofits to develop coping skills in high-stress environments. I’m still so proud of the work I put into this project, and I owe so much to my former boss and mentor for giving me so much space to grow and lead. The personal motivation behind this project was my own experience with burnout, which fueled my passion and dedication to create a resource that could help others, which is exactly what it has accomplished. 

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.

I’m Rebecca Kochanek! Some fun things about me are that I am a wife and mom of 3 awesome kids, all of whom have been birthed in water! I am a birth nerd to my core. I love creating art, modeling for fun, dressing in fun clothes, and pushing back against the status quo. You know how many people say they wear all black? I am the opposite! I love color. My free time consists of collaborating with my friends on creative projects, enjoying locally owned coffee shops, and hitting up a yoga class. 

I’m a creative to my bones. I knew I was meant to be a writer when, in 7th grade, my English teacher read an essay I wrote to the whole class. I went on to write competitively and poured myself into speech and debate team for many years. I pursued a college degree in Communications and Socioogy and am a published research author. My research is one of my most favorite achievements. I attended the University of Texas of the Permian Basin remotely from Ohio, and a professor was really impressed with a topic of one of my research papers, which happened to be rape culture in television from the beginning of time to now. She asked me to further my research and give a speech about my findings. At the time, the opportunity was only supposed to be open to students attending campus in person, and I was the only exception. I was accepted as the only remote student while taking care of my first child in the NICU. Jokes for everyone: This happened in 2020, and I let my mentor know that I would have to drop out of the opportunity due to the pandemic. She told me to hang tight and to keep working on my project.  Very soon, the world shut down, and all of the researchers were forced to move to a remote format. I proudly finished my research and gave my speech virtually to the entire campus of UTPB. 

Throughout my education, I have been praised for writing with creativity, power, and connection. There was never a doubt in my mind that I would continue to write and speak in my career. Because I graduated college and had my first baby during a pandemic, my career looks different than I imagined, but somehow, I have found perfect opportunities to keep growing in my craft. Currently, I am the copywriter with Savvy Morris Marketing and offer my services alongside hers and on my own. I write website copy and write blog posts for clients. 

My approach to my craft is to write with unapologetic vulnerability. My entire life has been helping others know that they don’t have to do things the same way everyone else does. I strive to give everyone validation that they have the power to show up as themselves. My clients are empowered to connect with their audience by being true to themselves. I want nuance to exist, and I encourage all my clients to lean into the complexity of being human. I am not the writer who will give you a cookie-cutter experience. I want my clients to feel safe to show emotions, laugh and cry, celebrate, grieve, and learn.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being creative is giving my audience the space to connect with themselves to better connect with others. I am a massive advocate for self-reflection and healing. I work so unbelievably hard to cultivate a safe space for others to feel challenged to do deep work in themselves because once you’re secure in yourself, you can have deeper relationships around you. When I write copy for a client, I get such a euphoric high when they tell me they have never heard themselves sound so powerful or confident. Clients often tell me they are shocked that I write copy in such compelling ways that make them feel safe connecting with their audience! All I want in my creative work is for others to feel empowered to use their spaces to stay authentic. I feel constantly rewarded when someone trusts me to help them confidently cultivate their voices. Truly, nothing is better!!

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

This is something I am so passionate about. We need to push back against the overuse of Artificial intelligence (AI). I trust that it has its place in society. However, I am not on board with the push of using AI to replace artists and creatives. Society can prioritize human connection and value craft over convenience. The beauty of art lies in the human connection it fosters, the stories it tells, and the emotions it evokes. As creatives, we have an important role in continuously fostering a community where people, potential clients, and collaborators WANT to connect with us. I want to see people in society invest in art created and orchestrated by creativity and passion. I want to see less focus on perfect aesthetics and algorithm pleasing. Society can contribute to a healthy artistic ecosystem by embracing authentic art.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Rebecca.kochanek
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-kochanek-4b6926124/

Image Credits

Austin & Shilo Creative