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

Tiffany, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We would love to learn more about you and your creative background.

Before writing this, I was asked how I would describe myself. Trying to describe myself was a bit challenging – I’m an actor, an influencer, a marketer, a photographer? I think I’m still figuring it out.

Starting high school, I knew I wanted to pursue acting. It wasn’t until college that I dedicated my free time to researching the industry, building a resume, getting headshots, and landing my first gig. All this while working three restaurant jobs and pursuing my business degree. Even though it sounds like a lot, it gave me motivation to pursue all fronts. I continued auditioning and would book some big spots here and there, but it wasn’t (and still isn’t) a sustainable financial pursuit. While I’m still an ‘actor,’ it has now become more of a side gig. After college, I joined the workforce and have been in a marketing role ever since. I’m proud to have worked at top companies like Disney and Meta, but something was still missing – something I could call my own!

In 2014, I started getting into photography and began posting to my Instagram, which eventually led to many followers and paid campaigns with top brands. This scratched the creative itch for a bit but was hard to keep up with the millions of creators on the platform for years to come. My business side kicked in, and I started consulting and running influencer campaigns for small businesses as a side hustle. At one point, I even started a YouTube gaming channel, but it turns out it wasn’t for me.

At this point, you probably recognize the pattern. I’m constantly exploring new endeavors, but those interests never really reached the height I had hoped. I knew I had to pursue something that I could actually complete or finish, see the end result. This led me to write my first children’s book!

Could you share a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you?

So last year, I decided I wanted to write and publish my first children’s book, ‘Riley and the Reclusive Ravens.’

My close friends can attest – I love corvids and recently befriended three ravens. I learned so much throughout the process – how smart they are, how they recognize who you are, how they bring you gifts. But, in popular culture, they’re always portrayed as ‘scary’ and would always be part of Halloween decorations. The truth is, they are not scary at all and are probably one of the smartest animals in the world.

I’d like to change that perception in my book for children, and to teach them that while these creatures may look unapproachable, they are actually very intelligent and curious animals. Beyond teaching children about corvids, the book highlights being proud of who you are and the journey of friendship.

Several months after starting this project – writing the story, finding an illustrator and editor, figuring out how to publish this thing – it’s finally complete. A finished product that I can hold and say I did it – from start to finish. I suppose we can add ‘publisher’ to the list of descriptors now!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a marketer by trade, with over 12 years of consumer marketing experience. I had the great opportunity to work for companies like Disney, CBS, and Meta where my role was mainly focused on developing creative programs and launching products to market.

When I was younger and deciding on a major, I thought marketing would be the most creative and lucrative career in the future. And while I enjoy marketing for a company, I’ve always wanted to have full ownership where I decide the direction of the product I’m building and how to market it.

Next year marks an exciting chapter for me as I plan to bring a lot of my ideas to life, whether it’s a side hustle or a creative project. Stay tuned!

In your view, what can society do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

The biggest challenge is a financial one. Companies should provide a fairer pay to these individuals and those who are decision-makers should help push for this change at the ground level.

Opportunities are scarce and the industry is saturated with talented creatives looking for work. Companies should lean on actual talent while balancing new tech, like AI.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I previously touched on how I transitioned from one aspiration to the next. In my mind, there have always been two paths to take – a creative one or a money-making one. While one is definitely more prominent in my life, it has helped sustain my day-to-day, allowing me to try new creative pursuits. One of these pursuits was during the pandemic.

In 2020, I ventured into designing and producing masks. The designs were meant to celebrate the culture of Taiwan, where my family is from. After investing a lot of money and time to make this happen, it turns out the timing just wasn’t right. Unfortunately, by the time the final product was complete, the government had lifted the mask mandate, and people stopped wearing masks. I made the decision to shift focus and explore new opportunities.

During this process, I learned an important lesson about attaching an idea to an event that is somewhat unpredictable and temporary, may not be the best approach.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tiffersliu.wixsite.com/portfolio
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffersliu/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffl/
• Other: Check out Riley and the Reclusive Ravens on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMC3YYL1