Meet Eli Verano

We were lucky to catch up with Eli Verano recently and have shared our conversation below.

Eli, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

You know, sometimes I feel like imposter syndrome isn’t really part of me anymore. And then, out of nowhere, it creeps back in. It’s like I keep going through the same cycle—doubting myself, questioning whether I’m good enough, and then finding my way back to confidence, reminding myself that I do have what it takes.

I think when you work in a creative field—or run a business in a highly competitive industry where growth never stops—it’s so easy to doubt yourself. I see it all the time in my friends’ careers too. They’re talented, ambitious, and incredibly skilled, yet they have those same moments of questioning everything. I guess it’s just part of the process.

I recently watched The Greatest Night in Pop, and there’s a moment that really stuck with me. Imagine a room full of the biggest stars in music, people who have shaped entire generations, yet even they seemed uncertain, unsure. I bet some of them were feeling imposter syndrome right then and there. That’s when it hit me: if even the greatest artists experience it, why wouldn’t the rest of us?

Now, when I start feeling insecure or anxious about a project, a call, or a performance, I take it as a sign that I actually care about what I’m doing. And most likely, that fear comes from growth—because anything we’ve never done before is bound to bring doubts. But wasn’t I scared when I released my first song? Wasn’t I nervous when I worked with my first client? Today, those things are just part of my routine. And that’s what helps me deal with imposter syndrome—reminding myself that I’m the one who made this opportunity happen. And the best thing I can do is dive into the work instead of questioning whether I deserve to be here. That’s usually when the doubts fade away—when I stop overthinking and just get lost in the work itself.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’ve come a long way from working in IT for 10 years, balancing a corporate career and independent artist path, to founding my agency, WONDRWORK. Over the years, I’ve had my music featured in TV shows, on the radio, and had the opportunity to perform on platforms like The Voice and TEDx, among others.

Now, I combine all my skills to help artists and music brands grow. WONDRWORK is a creative agency focused on music, marketing, and coaching, offering services like music production, promotion, brand strategy, and more.

As an artist, I’m currently working on my upcoming EP Twin Peaks, a tribute to David Lynch’s legacy. Two singles have already been released: Like Before and Lonely Laura, both available on all platforms. This album is the product of collaboration with musicians from the USA, Argentina, Malaysia, Chile, Ukraine, and Brazil.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The first thing that comes to mind is flexibility and being multi-skilled. Creatives, as well as professionals in business and artistic fields, are expected to do more than just one thing today. Instead of resisting that, it’s important to embrace it. Don’t shy away from learning new things or taking on challenges you’ve never faced before. Accept that this is the new standard in many industries, and focus on diving into the skills that can take your career to the next level—whether it’s social media management, video editing, or marketing.

The second thing is the importance of building a professional network. Everyone talks about it—you’ll hear this advice in every course or conference. But for a long time, I didn’t quite know what to do with it. I’m not a fan of loud parties or jam sessions where musicians typically connect, and honestly, I’d rather work from home alone than go to most events. So how was I supposed to network? Over time, I realized I could build connections in my own way, even while sitting in front of my laptop. I started reaching out to brands, artists, and startups whose values and products resonated with me—people I knew I had something to offer as well. So my advice would be: networking is crucial, but you can absolutely do it in a way that feels natural to you, even if you’re a hardcore introvert. Find your own approach.

And finally, my background in business has been a huge advantage throughout my artist career and in running my agency. Looking at every project as a business—with clear goals, resources, and an audience—has been a game-changer. It helps you develop the mindset that marketing comes first. And I don’t just mean branding or advertising, but marketing in a broader sense—seeing everything you create as a product with its own audience.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

Over the past year, I’ve started working with independent artists as a music promoter and PR publicist through my agency, www.wondr.work. My ideal client is someone who’s ready to put in the work and understands that real results don’t come without effort. Some of the most challenging projects I’ve worked on this year were with artists who didn’t want to create content or engage with their audience. They believed that their music would naturally find its way to listeners or that simply hiring a promoter meant they had already done more than enough for their release.

Working with a promoter or agency can definitely make an artist’s life easier—it takes care of press materials, curator outreach, pitching to media and radio stations, and so much more. But that’s just one piece of a much bigger puzzle when it comes to releasing music. On the other hand, the most successful projects I’ve seen were with artists who understood that having a promoter is an opportunity to build stronger foundations for their career and improve their chances of being heard. They were fully involved in the process, and that made all the difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wondr.work/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eli.musicana/
• Other: https://www.eliverano.com/

Image Credits

Olga Tsoi