We were lucky to catch up with Sally Nellson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Sally thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
In late 2010, a funder approached our production company and asked if we could assist in changing the pervasive narrative that public schools were failing – specifically Nebraska’s public schools. We recommended going across the state from the smallest, rural towns to the large urban areas, using documentary film shorts (10-ish minutes) to tell the stories of the great things happening in our public schools. Along the way witnessed how society’s problems show up at the door of the school – most prominent of those is poverty. We then added longer (30+ minute) issue-based films to help people understand the challenges faced by students and schools. Our overall approach was through a campaign called I Love Public Schools made up of three areas of focus: storytelling (original content and user-generated), community rallying (social media, events, and merchandise), and relationship building. What began with 9 short films, 1 full-time employee (me) and 3-5 year commitment became a staff of 9, hundreds of films, 6-figure nationwide merch sales, and a documented state of political readiness among Nebraska citizens, and a campaign that has lasted 11 years and going. While we were able to stay above the political fray, research showed that school choice lobbying groups stopped investing in Nebraska because our campaign was “frustratingly effective”.
Coming from a family of educators and having attended public school myself, I couldn’t be more proud of the impact our first-of-its-kind campaign has had.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I have a long history as a storyteller that has lead me to the work I do today. If you had told me back in 1989 when I joined the financial services industry, determined to make my fortune, that I would one day become a social impact documentary filmmaker I would have thought you were crazy. I began my career in Boston learning the finer points of investment management so I could one day help money managers be able to tell their stories to the large institutions whose money they were seeking. Along the way I helped started a business within the largest institutional money manager in the country as well as an innovation lab. I loved everything about my work and found great success. But underneath it all, was an independent spirit needing release from the structure of corporate America and the shiny-penny-ness of Boston.
I packed my bags and moved to where my heart belongs, Los Angeles. There I started a consulting firm, along with a partner, we told the stories of the largest investment firms in the country. While undoubtedly lucrative, I was plagued by a new sense of responsibility to do something that would have a positive impact in the world and a curiosity to see where I could go using film as my storytelling medium. So I took a huge risk and abandoned my paycheck, moved back to Nebraska, and began to learn filmmaking by making first corporate films then going all-in starting the I Love Public Schools campaign. 15 years into my filmmaking career, I’ve done a combination of corporate, non-profit, and social impact campaigns. I’ve started 3 initiatives aimed at addressing issues in k-12 education, while also working with brands to encourage them to use their storytelling to create social impact.
I believe that my work should prompt viewers to say, “I had no idea! What can I do to help?”. I value curiosity and connection and feel an obligation to do work that creates greater understanding between those on opposite sides.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
When I first moved to Los Angeles, I had connections who had set me up with meetings with high level entertainment executives. I held the false notion that in order to “hold my own” in these meetings, that I had to be an expert in the industry and was afraid of imposter syndrome. While I was accomplished in the investment field where I started as an assistant, I was sure that anyone in Hollywood could only offer me a job fetching coffee since I knew nothing of their world. So, I did what any rational person would do, and I chickened-out and canceled all of the meetings.
I think many of us have experienced the feeling that when we step out of any relationship (work or personal) that no one else will want us – that somehow our essential being isn’t enough. For me, I was trapped in the label of someone who works in financial services, rather than someone who values curiosity, connection, gratitude, and service. I forgot the qualities that made me successful – most important, a willingness to work hard, problem solve, and go above and beyond to get the job done.
While I now label myself as a social impact documentary filmmaker – I think for those who meet me and those who know me, I am all of the values I show up with, not what I do. I sometimes wonder what my life would look like had I realized this earlier in life.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
For me, the three most important books are: Brene Brown – The Gifts of Imperfection
Steven Pressfield – The War of Art
Gay Hendricks – The Big Leap
I would not be where I am today without the incredible support and education from my Los Angeles-based success coach, Sarah Gibbons. Not only have I worked with her one-on-one, and in small groups, but she did significant work with my team at the I Love Public Schools campaign which transformed our way of working together.
Contact Info:
- Website: storiesdoinggood.com
- Instagram: sallynellson
- Linkedin: sally nellson
- Other: iloveps.org whotaughtyou.org
Image Credits
Andy Marinkovich, Chris Vankat, Matt Andrews, Mike Malone