Angelica Malin shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Angelica, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What battle are you avoiding?
I think every entrepreneur faces the battle often of going against the grain. There’s always times where it might feel tempting or easier to do something ‘conventional’ and the battle for me is holding that self-belief throughout the year (especially as my work is very seasonal), that this is the right path for me. I have become best friends with uncertainty, because the beauty and flipside is that you never know what’s round the corner and super exciting work can come in literally days before.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Angelica Malin – I’m a global emcee, moderator and benefit auctioneer based in NYC. I relocated from London to New York after meeting my husband on vacation. I’m unique as I work full-time as an emcee and auctioneer, there’s not many of us and I pride myself on having a rather niche, but useful skill set. Live events have come back strong since the pandemic and I really do believe we’re craving human connection and a feeling of belonging and community more than ever. I’m mainly emcee events in the AI and tech space, as it’s so fast-changing and everyone wants to know what’s the latest thing with AI right now. As a benefit auctioneer in New York, I support non-profits in NYC reach their fundraising goals at live auctions, galas and pledge drives. Next year I will be supporting St Jude’s, MBCure and many others.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My mum! She’s a portrait painter, I really excellent one. She’s painted Elton John and has 9 portraits in the National Portrait Gallery in London. Without sounding too cliche, my mum taught me to get a bit creative and think outside the box professionally. I think we’re often told we have to follow a set path, or stick to one thing, but I believe in multi-passionate entrepreneurship and changing paths no matter your age. My mum inspires me with her positive attitude and optimism, she’s always led me to believe anything is possible.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Take the pressure off yourself. So much of the pressure we feel professionally is from within – something we have created for ourselves. Nobody thinks about your career or your business as much as you do. Nobody is noticing in the way you think they are. And if you could search for the joy and fulfilment in it, rather than worrying on what it looks like to others, that will lead you down a better path. I believe that work can and should be fun. I put too much pressure on myself in my 20s and took some of the fun out of the entrepreneurial journey for myself.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Good chocolate! Honestly the chocolate in the US is trash, which is why I always have to fly back with a 23kg bag full of British chocolate. Otherwise I think my friends would say that seeing my potential realised is something that matters to me. I can be hard on myself, but only because I want to be challenged and constantly be reaching for more.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
Business is about the quality of your relationships. Especially in the US, we can get so focused on ‘new leads’ and chasing new business, and lose sight of nurturing the relationships and business we already have. For me, as an emcee or auctioneer, I would rather have 1 client that I LOVE working with, who hosts multiple events a year and we have an easy working relationship and mutual respect. I invest in my relationships and I am always professional, easy to work with and do the utmost to make an event a success, and I think that pays dividends. It’s important to remember that repeat business is the real test of the success of your business – not just how many enquiries you get. Check out my website: https://www.angelicamalin.com/
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.angelicamalin.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jellymalin/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelicamalin/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jelly_malin
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
