We were lucky to catch up with Sydney Miller recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sydney, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear from you about what you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry and why it matters.

Corporate America is so regimented and rule-following – you need a certain degree, certain requirements, and certain skills. It praises namesake, legacy, traditional education, and work history. It’s all about your straight and narrow pathway and credentials. The path to creativity and purpose is spiraling, up-and-down, and illusive. There is no “right school” or “right path” or “requirement” to start the journey. You don’t need to major in art to be an artist, you don’t need to take formal classes to learn, you don’t need to do it all by the book.

I fell into my creative work dramatically, after dropping out of dental school which was my “right path” for almost 6 years. I took all of the pre-requisites, followed all of the rules, and played by the book but lacked fulfillment and passion. I landed a job at a creative agency competing against people who had majored in art, communications, PR, design, and everything in between. For a while, I felt so out of place, knowing that the people around me had all the bona fides that I didn’t. But what I lacked in traditional schooling and experience, I made up for in vision, passion, imagination, and a desire to grow. My mentor at my first creative job as a creative producer took a chance on me, seeing something in me that I couldn’t yet see in myself. It bolstered and inspired my creativity and drove me to dive deeper into my personal process, goals, and visions.

I’d love to see Corporate America taking chances on young, new creatives that may have less “credentials” but are ripe with passion and vision. What’s so amazing about the creator industry is that everyone has a chance to express themself and be creative without all of the hoops to jump through. Some of the most talented artists got their start by sharing sketches, videos, paintings, or songs on social media, despite having no formal education or “work history.”

Sydney, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a content creator and storyteller who does a little bit of everything in the creative industry. I’ve been a creative producer, social media manager, photographer, video editor, copywriter, and now, a freelance content creator specializing in telling stories with beauty, wit, and real-life authenticity.

My path to creative work was non-linear to say the least. I studied psychology and natural sciences and had plans to attend dental school. I moved to New York to attend NYU Dental School only to realize that going to dental school is a crazy thing to do if you don’t want to be a dentist. As an unemployed grad-school dropout, my options felt simultaneously limited and limitless. I could now become anything.

Much to my surprise, I landed an internship at a creative agency working in client services and social media production. After learning for months, I fell in love with the creative process and began my work as a junior creative producer. As my work expanded, I felt myself wanting to dive deeper into hands-on creative work and develop my technical skills in photography, video editing, and creation. In the past two years, I’ve pivoted my work to focus on content creation, both photo and video within the wellness, beauty, and food industries.

I’m deeply inspired by stories, patterns, and the hidden messages in life. So many brands have incredible products and beautiful aesthetics, but lack story, which is where I come in. As a self-proclaimed meaning-maker, I’m deeply sentimental, emotional, and driven by what people truly care about, be it a brand, product, or experience. I strive to create content that is simultaneously beautiful, witty, evocative, and on-trend.

Along with my branded work, I’m building my own personal TikTok where I share my musings on life, capture my feelings and personal stories, and share my journey in healing the mind, body, and spirit.

How did you build your audience on social media?

My first truly viral video on TikTok was about seeing two dead rats on the street and thinking of it as an omen to end things with a current lover. It was… definitely strange and I didn’t expect it to resonate so hard with others. I love to talk about the unseen, unheard, and undiscussed parts of life – the signs we receive, our personal omens, our weird breakups, our darkest feelings, urges, and experiences. I think so many people are afraid to be vulnerable these days and something about sharing in such a raw way on social media inspires people. It’s driven me to continue to be raw and open on social media, talking candidly about my healing journey, emotional work, and life experiences. I love seeing it inspire others and it always reminds me that there is no fully unique experience in life – we all love, lose, and learn just the same.

For anyone building a personal social media presence – just be you. It sounds so simple but it feels harder in practice on social channels driven by trends. It can be easy to try to be like every other creator, but your individual voice, experiences, and perspective is what will draw people to you. Embrace your authenticity and weirdness and the right people will follow!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist/creative is having an outlet for expression. I’m a highly sensitive person so I’m always feeling some type of way – having a creative outlet helps me process my feelings in a constructive way. It’s alchemical in nature, the ability to take your own pain, heartache, joy, or whatever you are feeling and turn it into something totally brand new. Sharing my art has helped me to feel less alone in my process, as well. The human experience is so universal, all of us experiencing the same things through different lenses and experiences. I’m so moved when my creations resonate with even just one other person. It helps us both feel less alone!

Contact Info:

• Website: sydneymillercreative.com
• Instagram: @sydmilll
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydney-miller-9500271b7/
• TikTok: @girl.brain

Image Credits
Yoga Photography + Headshot by Matthew Morales