Kristen initially studied theater for three years in college but switched to journalism during her junior year. This pivot led her to intern at Viacom, where she worked on Teen Nick and Nicktoons. Networking and persistence helped her secure a production assistant role at MTV, eventually leading to her current position as Social Media Manager for MTV's 'Total Request Live.'
Kristen stresses the importance of taking initiative and doing the work yourself, as no one will hand opportunities to you. This mindset guided her through internships and into her role managing social media for major brands like MTV.
Kristen completed multiple internships, including one at Viacom, which was instrumental in landing her first job at MTV. She believes internships provide valuable experience and are crucial for building a career in media and social media management.
Kristen emphasizes authenticity in social media strategy. She believes content should resonate with audiences and create genuine connections, rather than simply pushing promotional material. Tailoring content to specific platforms and paying attention to audience preferences are also key.
Kristen advises focusing on positive engagement and ignoring trolls. She maintains a strategy of not engaging with negativity, as it can escalate conflicts. For her personal YouTube channel, she responds with kindness, acknowledging that even negative comments mean the content was viewed.
Kristen encourages aspiring professionals to take initiative, build their own platforms, and seek internships or volunteer opportunities to gain experience. She stresses the importance of persistence and letting one's work speak for itself.
Kristen faces challenges such as balancing her YouTube channel with her full-time job and dealing with occasional negative feedback. Despite these challenges, she remains committed to creating content about her passions, including pop culture, movies, and books.
Kristen believes authenticity is essential because audiences can sense when content is insincere or overly promotional. She emphasizes that social media should reflect a real personality, allowing brands to connect with their audience on a deeper level.
On today’s episode, we are graced with Kristen Maldonado, a vibrant storyteller whose passion for pop culture and digital strategy has led her to roles like Social Media Manager at MTV's "Total Request Live." Kristen’s journey from theater major to social media powerhouse is nothing short of inspiring, filled with twists, determination, and a lot of heart.Kristen started her career as a theater enthusiast before pivoting into journalism, where she discovered her love for entertainment reporting. Reflecting on her college days, she shares how a late switch to journalism opened doors, ultimately landing her a life-changing internship at Viacom. Her trajectory underscores a powerful lesson: "You have to do the work yourself; no one is going to hand it to you." This mantra has guided her through internships and into the digital realm of social media management, where she now thrives.Her passion for storytelling shines as she recounts her experience managing social media for iconic brands like MTV. Kristen explains the delicate art of digital strategy, where authenticity reigns supreme. “It’s not just about putting content out there; it’s about creating something people can genuinely connect with,” she emphasizes.From cutting viral clips for shows like "Ridiculousness" to brainstorming strategies for new TV launches, her work exemplifies the intersection of creativity and precision.Kristen’s love for pop culture doesn't stop at her professional life; it spills over into her personal projects, including her YouTube channel. Here, she dives into reviews, interviews, and discussions about everything from movies to books. This channel, she says, started as a way to share her voice and explore her passions: “No one was going to put me on air, so I created my own platform.” Her journey as a content creator mirrors the entrepreneurial spirit she encourages in others.But even in a world of likes, retweets, and shares, challenges abound. Kristen talks about dealing with trolls and negativity, both on professional and personal platforms. Her response? Grace and kindness. “If someone doesn’t like what I post, it’s fine—they still watched it,” she quips. Her approach speaks volumes about maintaining balance and perspective in the sometimes chaotic digital landscape.Kristen also shares insights into the evolving social media landscape. She discusses the importance of natively posting content tailored to specific platforms, noting how even small details like video dimensions can influence engagement. The key, she says, is to stay authentic while paying close attention to what resonates with audiences.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/indie-film-hustle-a-filmmaking-podcast--2664729/support).