We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Wendy Hovland. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Wendy below.

Wendy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you as a business owner?

I worked in public relations and community outreach before becoming an actor.

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve brought with me from my experience in the business world is that I view the actors and creative professionals I interact with as colleagues instead of competition.

I audition every day alongside hundreds of other talent for voiceover and acting roles.

It would be easy to think of these people as competition, because of course we are competing for the same jobs.

But I think of them, and always refer to them as my colleagues. It’s a subtle shift that makes me want them to win as much as I want myself to win. Sometimes more!

It feels great to refer a fellow talent and have them land a role, which makes the production team thrilled as well. It’s a win all-around!

It’s true in every profession, sometimes we aren’t chosen for the job or project we wanted. But I believe as long as we keep doing the work and improving our skills and knowledge the opportunities meant for us will find us.

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

I’m a voiceover and on-camera actor. In all I do, I use storytelling to communicate with the goal of connecting, educating and inspiring.
In my work, I use my voice to help directors, producers and project managers communicate their messages to the target audience.

In the early years of my career, I worked in the communications industry. I always intended to work in the performing arts, but life can take you in different directions and much of my work early-on was focused on public relations and community outreach for environmental programs and projects, especially water reliability.

In the last decade, I felt a pull to explore performing arts and began training while I maintained my communications and consulting work. I’ve now transitioned full-time to voiceover and on-camera acting along with offering strategic communications program guidance.

In a way, my personal evolution is exactly what has occurred in the overall communications industry. All channels of communication and media have become more multi-faceted incorporating written, spoken and visual messaging.

I’ve brought my business background into the creative work I do, and I’ve had the opportunity to participate in two business accelerators for my voiceover and acting business. This gave me the opportunity to create a business plan, marketing strategy and a financial plan. In addition, I learned from all the other entrepreneurs in my cohorts and still keep in touch with many of them. I highly recommend the experience.

My communications consulting work is centered around projects and programs that contribute to vibrant communities and preserving the environment.

Sometimes all my interests come together, and I’ve had the opportunity to participate more than once in performances for Climate Change Theatre Action, a biennial worldwide series of plays and readings about climate change.

One of my passions outside of work is mentoring and volunteering with Girl Scouts. Some of my favorite memories include backpacking with our troop through the Canadian Yukon, whitewater rafting on the Kern River, and serving as emcee of the 100th Anniversary Girl Scouts San Diego Volunteer Conference and Celebration.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

It is an often-repeated mantra ‘if you are an actor your actual job is auditioning’. If you get booked that’s a bonus, but it’s not the job. The career arc of a performing artist requires an incredible level of resilience to endure a high frequency of rejection.

I try to keep in mind if nothing is dared, nothing is achieved. It takes dedication and commitment as well as fortitude to persevere and continue forward.

One strategy that has helped is me is seeking out an accountability partner. Another local female business owner and I meet once a month to share our goals and be a sounding board for each other. It makes me feel great to cheer on her successes and watch her business growth. It encourages me to keep going and stay positive.

As Louisa May Alcott wrote “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” This is what I aspire to, the boldness and resilience to go forward through the storms of rejection with courage and confidence knowing that is how we navigate to waters yet to be explored. It is never too late to set sail and chart a course to your dreams, I’m proof. It may not be easy, almost undoubtedly it will be hard. But I have learned everything worth doing is hard.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

This past year I began studying Meisner acting technique.

It turns out these classes have been about a lot more than professional development.

They’ve been a portal to learning about myself through self-discovery, and through the lens of how others see me. A perspective we rarely get to see!

A few months in, I remarked to a colleague “I’m not sure if I’m learning more about acting, or myself, in Meisner classes.”

That’s how impactful studying Meisner technique has been for me.

In class, I’m studying alongside business leaders and engineers, as well as creative professionals, because the technique is useful for anyone.

Learning how to live truthfully in each moment takes intention and practice, but I can’t think of a better way to live.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wendyhovland.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyhovland/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WendyHovlandVoActor
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyhovland/
• Twitter: N/A
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCh_HKXot92oHelUTfwuOBRQ
• Yelp: N/A
• Other: https//imdb/me/wendyhovland

Image Credits
Cynthia Shaffer, photo credit for all images except the following: Recording Studio Images: Demos That Rock