We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelsea Little and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelsea, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Creativity has always been a huge part of my life. I studied harp and music from a very young age, and majored in literature and writing in college. It was always my dream to find a career that could combine creativity with helping others, and that’s exactly why GoFundMe has been such a dream. Hosting and producing our podcast, True Stories of Good People, is endlessly creatively fulfilling and it also helps amplify the stories of community change makers and everyday heroes whose voices deserve to be heard. I feel thankful everyday for having the opportunity to combine all of these passions at once at the place where I work.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started at GoFundMe in 2013 when we were just 13 people in a tiny office over on Convoy street in San Diego. Now, we are over 200 employees with offices around the world! When I started at GoFundMe as a Customer Happiness Agent, the founders handled all of the communications and marketing efforts, but quickly got overwhelmed as the business grew. I was promoted to Media Director in 2014 and that move shaped my career in such incredible ways. I managed our PR & social media strategies, and then as our communications team grew, I moved on to helping operationalize business experiments and new strategies. Perhaps the most exciting opportunity came when I was asked to spend 6 months living in London and Paris, assisting the establishment of our new international offices — a dream! Today, I am the Senior Manager of Brand Content and I oversee the GoFundMe Heroes program, an umbrella term for our editorial marketing & content strategy. This program includes GoFundMe’s first ever podcast, True Stories of Good People, which I have the honor of hosting and producing. Each episode introduces the listener to an everyday hero making positive change in our world. My best advice for anyone who is eager to carve out their own path within a company is to always be the squeaky wheel. Do you have a specific strength or talent that isn’t being utilized? Tell someone about it! Make it known! Carve out some of your own time to create an example and get it in front of the people who need to see it. I guarantee that when an opportunity arises in the future and involves your specific skill, you will at the very least be top of mind for those making the decisions.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I almost have too many favorite things in San Diego to choose, but here would be my must-dos for a day of fun: breakfast at Waypoint Public in North Park, then head across the street to browse Pigment and buy a beautiful candle or cookbook that you most DEFINITELY need. Then roam around the San Diego Zoo with some friends and a beer in your hand (they sell beer there now, greatest thing to ever happen). In the evening, head to Born & Raised in Little Italy for the most delicious steak in the city and a table side martini, and then if you still have it in you, head on over to Seven Grand in North Park for a nightcap of whiskey! You might need a designated driver to safely complete this day…

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout would have to go to GoFundMe’s founders, Brad Damphousse and Andrew Ballester. Their mentorship has been invaluable in my life, and they saw potential in me early on and gave me a big chance to head up marketing and communications in GoFundMe’s early years. That chance changed my life and career in such profound ways, and I’ll never be able to thank them enough.

Website: www.kelsealittle.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsearaelittle/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsealittle/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kelsea_little

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