Meet Annalyse Marchetti

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Annalyse Marchetti a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Annalyse, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

I completely lost my confidence and self-esteem when my soccer career was taken from me after tearing both ACLs and meniscuses during the most important years for college recruitment. I had been a top-level goalkeeper for PDA (Players Development Academy; alum: USWNT players Tobin Heath, Heather O’Reilly) in New Jersey, won an ECNL national championship, and was on a path I had dreamed of since I was a kid. But after my injuries, I lost my spot on the team… it felt like everything I worked so hard toward, got flushed down the toilet. I later headed to Florida to attend Lynn University where I eventually dropped out, I became distant from my family, and started to spiral. I jumped from job to job in Florida just trying to survive and felt like I had lost who I was. My self-esteem and confidence hit rock bottom. At that moment I was able to lean on a couple of friends, who were the catalyst for where I’m at today. It was a step-by-step grinding process, that was not pretty, but I am absolutely proud of what that experience has taught me. My rebirth gave me back my confidence and self-esteem. I am proud to say that I am back in school, attending Santa Monica College, reconnected with my family, living in Los Angeles, and accomplishing things I never imagined, with an even stronger sense of self-esteem and confidence that I never experienced before.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am a creative and developing marketing professional, with a passion for storytelling that connects and drives impact. I am currently enrolled at Santa Monica College with a Business Administration focus where I plan to transfer to UCLA or CSUN to further my education on brand strategy and media production. This summer, I was thrilled to join Snap Inc. within their Snap Academies as a Storytelling Academy Scholar. I am humbled to say I was 1 of 15 Scholars selected out of thousands of applicants. Through the Snap Academies, I have been gaining hands-on experience pitching ideas to real marketing teams and executives. One of my proudest moments so far was collaborating with an Engineering Academy Scholar to develop a chatbot project, which we had the honor of presenting directly to Snap CEO Evan Spiegel.

I also recently landed an externship at Epic Games (through Extern), where I am exploring storytelling through game design, working on cinematic videos and creative narrative development. In addition, I work as a Creative Assistant at Big M Entertainment (BME) where I have been graced with the opportunity to directly work on the Sony Pictures Studios lot. At BME I support branded campaigns, asset coordination, and pitch decks for trailers and sizzle reels directly with lead creative/founder, Marvin Williams (Sony, FOX, Jungle Book). These unique and highly sought after experiences have provided me an excellent foundation in both marketing and production, that I absolutely appreciate. The aforementioned has propelled me as a multidisciplinary creative where I also freelance through my own company, Happy Brand Media Group for UGC and short-form content projects, allowing me to stay connected to platform trends, real-time audience engagement, and ultimately providing value.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three most important qualities that shaped my journey are resilience, adaptability, and a passion for learning. Resilience helped me overcome setbacks, like the end of my soccer career, teaching me that failure is part of the process and bouncing back is key. Adaptability allowed me to pivot from sports to marketing and production, embracing new challenges along the way. My advice is to stay open to new opportunities, even if they take you off your planned path. Finally, a passion for learning has fueled my growth. Whether through Snap Academies, my externship at Epic Games, or working with Big M Entertainment, each experience taught me something new. My advice is to never stop learning, seek mentors, take courses, and dive into hands-on projects. By developing resilience, adaptability, and a hunger for knowledge, you will be equipped to turn challenges into opportunities. These qualities will not only help you navigate your journey but also help you thrive in uncharted territory.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

The person who has been most helpful to me is my mentor, Marvin Williams. He has graced me not only with patience but has truly helped dig me out of the dirt. When I mentioned leaning on my friends earlier, Marvin was the main person I leaned on. While he is incredibly kind hearted and full of grace, he is also the most skilled person I have ever met. Marvin inspires me daily. Between his creativity, his heart, his patience, and his technical brilliance, I have truly never met anyone like him. He is a phenomenon.

Since the day I met Marvin, he has consistently guided me and handed me the keys to success. In an industry where many people close the door, he welcomed me in and took me under his wing. I am beyond grateful. He has made my entire LA experience unforgettable. Without Marvin’s constant support and guidance, I would not be where I am today. He saw a side of me I did not even know existed at the time. He saw this creative and smart version of me that I had never fully leaned into.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you Marvin. You believed in me before I believed in myself, and because of that, my life will never be the same. I will carry that forever.

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