Meet Curtis Hadley

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

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Curtis with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I get my work ethic from my mom and dad. I grew up on a small horse ranch in Fort Worth, Texas where I learned at a young age to be responsible for all of the animals we had to take care of everyday. I rode horses and played baseball, football and basketball from the age of 5 years old all the way up through highschool. All of these different activities I did growing up taught me how to be dedicated to something and to always finish what I start.

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 am a National Account Manager currently for a top telecommunications company in downtown Los Angeles. I have also been wearing a few different hats in the entertainment industry for 8 years now and I love working with all types of entertainers. I have been cultivating professional & personal relationships working as a Talent Manager independently for the past 8 years. I work with clients across television and film, fashion, comedy, social media, and fitness industries. I love working with people and helping bring their creative visions to life across every field.

I have been the Director of Talent Outreach for the Alvin Agency here in Hollywood for the past 3 years. I work with my best friend Javon Alvin and he is an Executive Director & Producer for the company. The Alvin Agency specializes in creative direction and digital marketing across a wide range of areas including advertising, branding, design, influencer marketing and content creation. I am responsible for identifying, building relationships with, and securing talent across film, television, music, and digital media projects. I also scout emerging and established artists, actors, influencers, and creators by managing outreach campaigns and collaborating with casting, production, and marketing teams to align talent with specific projects or brand partnerships.

Lastly, I have been the Director of Event Operations for the past 3 years for KNOTWTR which is based here in Los Angeles. KNOTWTR is a luxury streetwear fashion brand based in Los Angeles that was founded by another best friend of mine Obi Nwankwo. I oversee the planning, production, and execution of our in-person events. These include fashion shows, pop-ups, influencer activations, product launches, and brand partnerships.

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?

The first quality that helped me become successful is my determination. I pride myself on never giving up and always having a positive attitude no matter the obstacles that come up in life. The second quality that has made me successful is my work ethic. Through the good and the bad, I have always given consistent effort and commitment towards my goals. The third and final quality that has helped me be successful is my confidence. Since I was a young boy growing up in Texas, my father always told me “Son, why would other people believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself”. This quote always stuck with me and I have always believed that I can achieve anything in this life if I put my mind to it and work hard everyday.

I would tell anyone who is early in their career journey to find a mentor that is already doing what you would like to do. I have been blessed with a few mentors over the past 10 years I have lived in Los Angeles. The way I got those mentors was by volunteering my time and for a few years I didn’t get paid much at all. I worked my corporate jobs and saved my money along the way so that as I built more relationships in entertaInment, I was able to go to events after work and network. Relationships are everything in the corporate business world and especially in the entertainment industry. I have tried a lot of things along the way and I have failed. I learned from my failures and I took them as lessons along the way. Always keep going and put one foot in front of the other. I believe that everyday you wake up, you have a chance to achieve your dreams.

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 sacrificed a lot for me and my older brother growing up. Because my parents didn’t attend college, they worked multiple jobs to provide for my brother and me. My mom worked in a law office all of my life and my dad worked in a car manufacturing factory doing hard labor for most of my life. I was the first person to go to college and graduate from a 4 year university. My dad always told me to use my mind and not my body to achieve my dreams. I would not be the man I am today if my parents didn’t make all these sacrifices for me and my older brother to succeed.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @flyexecutive
• Facebook: Curtis Hadley
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtis-hadley-51a7937a
• Other: Websites links for the companies I work for

  Knotwtr – https://www.knotwtr.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorqJVGSIDUzekn4bY6AoUGTtNRpkVLbeLEnKKKnWEjCpyEpIv16

  Alvin Agency – https://www.instagram.com/alvinagency/?hl=en