We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cassidy Arkin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Cassidy, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I got my resilience from my mother. Her unwavering strength and courage have been a guiding light in my life, shaping my journey and fostering the resilience that defines me today. Growing up, our family faced numerous challenges, and my mom’s determination and love was an example of which I live by to this day. She taught me the art of resilience not through words, but through her actions. In times of adversity, she displayed an incredible ability to adapt, persevere, and maintain a positive outlook. my mom instilled in me the belief that challenges are not roadblocks but stepping stones towards personal development. Through her example, I learned the importance of maintaining a positive mindset, seeking solutions, and embracing change as an integral part of life.
In my own journey, I’ve faced moments of adversity where the lessons from my mom resonated deeply. The ability to confront challenges head-on, find strength in vulnerability, and emerge with newfound wisdom has become a cornerstone of my resilience.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am an award-winning episodic and feature documentary producer and director whose work most often explores music, culture, and social movements. My work is dedicated to telling the rich, diverse stories of people through investigative and creative storytelling both in fiction and nonfiction.
I am the executive producer and the lead on-camera personality for the Paramount+ docuseries, Born in Synanon. The series is based on the self-published books, Little Brown Girl and Little Brown Girl: Wildflowers and Other Poems written by me and her mother, Sandra Rogers-Hare.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Stay the course, master your craft and have integrity — they always win! As a producer, your loyalty is your currency.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My parents protected and pushed me to pursue my dream! As a young woman of color aspiring to carve a path in television production, with aspirations to become a producer and director, their guidance paved the way for my journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: cassidyarkin.com
- Instagram: @cassidyea
