Meet Austun Reid

We recently connected with Austun Reid and have shared our conversation below.

Austun, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

I believe I got my work ethic from both of my parents. I think also being the oldest played a role in this because my goal has always been to make my family proud. Growing up, I saw my dad work as hard as possible to help provide for his family and give us a more “comfortable” life than he had growing up, which I deeply appreciated. My mother, on the other hand, homeschooled me and my siblings for 13 years while being a serial entrepreneur and heavily involved in the church. She juggled multiple responsibilities, showing me firsthand the value of perseverance and multitasking. Both my parents instilled in me the importance of working for what you want because nothing in life will be handed to you. This lesson has been a guiding principle throughout my life, shaping my approach to different challenges and opportunities Their example taught me the significance of resilience and self-discipline. As I continue to navigate my own path, I am constantly reminded of the foundations they laid and the high standards they set, driving me to strive for success and integrity in all my endeavors.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Being a creative, I feel like I have lived so many different lives due to the variety of projects I have done and continue to do. At this stage in my early twenties, I am eager to dive into all my interests and experiences as much as possible. My overarching goal has always been to be in entertainment. Currently, I work as a Production Assistant on season 3 of Peacock’s Original Series, “Bel-Air,” after having been a Writers’ PA on a new series titled “Fight Night” earlier this year.

In my downtime, I create content for my 42k TikTok followers while also focusing on building my talent management agency and media company, which will launch later this year. Additionally, I star in and produce a social media series titled “TranspLAnts,” which documents four college graduates who move to the City of Angels to break into the entertainment industry. The series follows their transitions to LA, adjustments to corporate America, and efforts to build a community in a new city.

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?

Looking back, I believe the three most impactful skills in my journey were networking, doing things scared, and persistence.

Networking was essential because you never know who knows who, and in an industry where relationships are crucial, it is a much-needed skill. I push myself to go to at least on networking event a week to continue to build my network and increase my opportunities to navigate this industry. I was fortunate to be part of many opportunities simply because I put myself out there and utilized my network.

Doing things scared was another significant factor in my journey. When I came to LA about a year and a half ago, I had $2,000, no official job, and was sleeping on a family friend’s couch an hour away from the city. I was terrified, but I had to move forward despite the fear. I firmly believe that growth doesn’t happen in comfortable spaces. This belief has guided many of my decisions, allowing fear to push me rather than pin me down. If you’re scared of something, it’s probably something you should do!

Lastly, persistence has been a key quality in helping me reach my goals. Breaking into the entertainment industry is tough, but persistence is vital. I’ve faced many rejections along the way, but if I had let those “no’s” stop me and didn’t remain persistent, I would never have reached those “yeses” and lived some of my wildest dreams.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

I would say the most impactful thing your parents did for me was allowing me the space to figure out life on my own while reassuring me that I was never alone and could depend on them for anything I needed. They were never forceful in their decisions, giving me the freedom to make my own choices. They offered their advice and supported me in every decision I made. Their unwavering belief in me every step of the way helped me to believe in myself even more.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.austunreid.com
• Instagram: @austunreid
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austun-reid-64ba65173/
• Other: tiktok @austunreid