Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rivka Rothstein. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Rivka, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
I got lucky, my parents did many things right (they also did plenty of things wrong, as all humans do!). I think one thing that has certainly impacted my career and adult life was how highly they valued risk taking. “In the greatest risk lies the greatest reward,” they would tell me. I think they emphasized this for me in particular because I was quite risk averse as a child. I was scared to hurt myself both physically and emotionally, and I was afraid to fail. This resulted in me being rather withdrawn. I realized by the end of high school that this way of being was not helping me live a fulfilling existence. I made a point to take more risks – to an extreme degree, in some cases! I never became an adrenaline junkie, but I did move across the ocean by myself at 22 to live life in a foreign city with no network, no friends, no structure, no reliable plan, and not very much money in the bank. Four years later, I moved back home with a career path to pursue (my voice over business), fluency in a foreign language on my resume, confidence in my ability to make it through any challenge, and a lot of important (and tough) life lessons under my belt.
The concept of risk taking certainly applies to running a business because you never know what is going to work, and what is going to flop. So you just have to fully commit, and give it a shot in order to learn what works best for you. You have to make the move. I’ve found risk taking to be one in the same with running a business, so being risk averse would definitely be a hindrance. Having a decade of practice in conscious risk taking behind me has been so beneficial in becoming a business owner. I certainly have my parents’ gentle nudging to thank for some of the best business decisions I’ve made thus far.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I work as a voice over artist and have a background in acting, singing, and languages. My path to where I am now has been anything but typical! After getting a degree in acting, I moved to Berlin, Germany, to pursue performance art. That’s where I stumbled into dubbing work. Thanks to my unique combo of skills: a young, native English-speaking voice, fluent German, and great acting training, I did pretty well. From there, a mentor encouraged me to dive into traditional voice over, and that’s when I really found my stride, working with brands that helped shape my early career.
Today, I offer a variety of voice over services, especially for brands that want to elevate their storytelling. My work spans commercials, corporate narration, and even meditative-style pieces, like a fun GrubHub spoof and a Disney World Resorts project that played to my love for wellness and meditation. My approach is all about authenticity—no stiff announcer style here. With my strong acting and singing background, I bring a natural, grounded energy that helps brands truly connect with their audience.
One of my biggest sources of pride as far as business goes is probably stepping into the role of entrepreneur. I honestly never pictured myself as a business owner. I was an artist at heart, through and through. It wasn’t until about six months in that I had this realization—hey, I’m actually running a business! And it’s thriving! Coming from such a heavily weighted artistic background, I quite proud of how far I’ve come. Running a business has been its own adventure, and I’m thrilled to see how my skills as an artist have helped me connect with clients and grow in this unexpected direction.
Clients who work with me know they’re getting more than just a voice; they’re getting someone who values integrity, relationships, and alignment. I love working with brands that respect their people and share positive energy with the world. I am also a member of Pledge 1%. I donate a percentage of total business revenue to causes I care deeply about, like youth mental health and wellness.
At the end of the day, I want to run my business (and my life, for that matter) dedicated to excellence and authenticity. Clients can depend on receiving an excellent product, an excellent experience, and excellent communication when they work with me. They can also depend on getting a real human! Not only with regard to recordings, but also to the work experience. I love to have fun in recording sessions, and keep it real. Whenever vulnerability is called for, I choose not to shy away. Voicing for mayonnaise commercials may not be making a grand impact on the world, but I do believe there is opportunity to make a positive impact in every relationship and interaction. Those are the places where I strive to be the change I wish to see in the world. So here’s to making an impact with authenticity, creativity, and a whole lot of heart.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Starting a business in voice over is like jumping on a roller coaster you didn’t realize was quite so wild. From the beginning, I learned just how much resilience is needed to navigate the unpredictable nature of a gig-based industry. It’s incredibly up and down—some weeks are packed with projects, and others are unusually quiet, leaving you wondering what’s around the corner.
Those early months taught me quickly that resilience is about more than just landing clients; it’s about riding the waves of uncertainty. To create stability in a volatile field, I started working with a financial advisor. Setting up systems to manage income highs and lows gave me peace of mind and the foundation to stay grounded. Learning to trust in the industry’s natural ebb and flow has become one of my most valuable skills.
Ultimately, resilience in voice over means adapting, building a foundation, and believing that the next opportunity is always just ahead. While this journey is unpredictable, it’s exactly what has pushed me to grow in ways I never expected.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
One of the most transformative resources in my entrepreneurial journey thus far has been 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. The concept that setting a 10x goal can actually make things simpler has been a game-changer for me. When you aim for something big, it sharpens your focus—suddenly, the path forward becomes clearer because only a few options will truly get you there. This approach has made it so much easier to decide which projects to take on, which partnerships align, and which opportunities really fit my vision.
With a 10x goal in mind, I find I’m less likely to get sidetracked by smaller, misaligned choices. Instead, I know that every decision I make needs to support that larger aim. It’s made business choices feel more purposeful, helping me stay aligned with what really matters.
This book has also inspired a mastermind group I co-lead, where we dig into the book’s themes and learn to apply this kind of big-picture thinking. By honing in on our most ambitious goals, we’re learning how to focus on only the best opportunities, bringing clarity and purpose to each step forward in business and life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rivkarothstein.com
- Instagram: rivkavoice
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rivkarothstein/
Image Credits
Emme Stanec Visuals, Andrew Amacher