Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sonali Randhawa. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sonali, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

From a young age, immersing myself in the world of influencers and YouTube gave me peace and direction in life. I vividly remember those early mornings, eagerly tuning into YouTube before school to watch my favorite creator, which was my sanctuary during challenging times.

As a child, I loved photography and videography, yet hesitated to share my creations publicly. The common belief around me was that success meant pursuing traditional careers like becoming a doctor or lawyer, leaving starting a business seemingly impossible. This internal struggle fueled the inception of LA Media Agency. My vision was to empower females to share their own stories, challenges, and experiences, which resonate with those on the opposite side of the screen, AKA, your viewers.

LA Media Agency is the first agency solely dedicated to empowering female creators. The motivation to support women derives from my personal journey of challenging societal norms and overcoming childhood hurdles. I firmly believe that women can thrive in business without conforming to societal expectations. We, as women, hold powerful messages that can greatly impact others and for me, guiding creators to understand their content’s purpose was the catalyst for founding this company.

As a young woman in business, I want to challenge norms and break barriers. My passion is to support other females and encourage them to share their inspiring stories. Remembering how I found peace and direction from my favorite creators at a young age, I aspire to create that same space for others. Our agency is more than just a creative social media agency, we stand as a stronghold for empowering women, aiming to create a significant positive impact on social media.

Sonali, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

After graduating high school in 2021, I began my career in marketing. I’m from Lafayette, a small town in the Bay Area, and I attended Acalanes High School. However, my path was far from conventional, given my family struggles which led me to leave home at 16, making finishing high school a real challenge. I relied on couch-surfing and hustling to get by.

After high school, college was a huge financial struggle and to be honest, I was a mess. Affording a place to live and even meals seemed impossible. But I took a huge step. I moved to Los Angeles the day I turned 18. In a tiny Santa Monica studio, surviving on 99-cent Jack in the Box tacos, I began studying marketing at Santa Monica Community College. During this time, I landed an internship at The Oppenheim Group, managing a realtor’s social media, creating, editing, and scheduling content. This experience was transformative as her Instagram grew from 20K to 60K followers in three months. I saw my potential which fueled me to start my own agency, specializing in editing, automated posting, and other creative services.

After two years at SMC, I transferred to Pepperdine to pursue a degree in Integrated Marketing Communications. Juggling school and running a business is not easy, but it definitely keeps me on my toes. Starting this agency has opened doors I never thought possible.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the most significant lessons I’ve learned is to stop seeking validation from others. For a long time, I felt the need for validation, particularly from my parents. However, once I let go of that need, I found more success and achieved beyond my expectations. Yes, I face tough times just like everyone else, but I’ve realized that pursuing what I truly love and am passionate about keeps me motivated. When you’re passionate about something, motivation becomes natural. Self-acceptance and finding happiness in life’s journey is so important to maintaining an overall positive lifestyle.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I’m in the middle of a significant shift within my business right now. Over the past few years, learning and growing as a business owner has led me to redirect LA Media Agency’s focus away from a traditional marketing agency model. Instead, we’re moving towards a new direction, dedicating ourselves entirely to becoming a female-centered creative agency. From the start, my passion has been to empower and uplift female creatives, guiding them to find purpose in their content.

I’ve observed and worked with women that are hesitant to embrace vulnerability in their work. Yet, I’ve seen many women experience success from being vulnerable and sharing their personal stories and experiences because they can significantly impact, and inspire other women. As a child who practically grew up on YouTube, witnessing influential women greatly inspired and motivated me to create similar opportunities for women in the creative space.

We are also undergoing a rebranding process. Our primary focus is refining our website to ensure seamless and effortless interactions for our clients. While the website is currently under maintenance, we’re actively working on its revamp and anticipate its return shortly.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonalichanell/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonali-randhawa-534362253