Meet Natalie Contrera

We recently connected with Natalie Contrera and have shared our conversation below.

Natalie, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?

My generosity is cultural. Arabs are some of the most hospitable people in the world. It’s rooted in shared moments and acts of service. It’s rooted in going above and beyond. In English, you say “Thank you.” In Arabic, I’d say “من عيني,” which reads “Min 3ayne.” The English translation is “from my eyes”. Also, it should be noted that it is one of the 1900 ways to say Thank You in Arabic. I give because I know it comes back, but I give to give. We know that we are meant to take care of those around us.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m a millennial, middle child, and Arab American Gemini. With a background in both intimate shoots and large-scale productions, I bring the same heart and precision to every set. The way I move in the world is powerful, empathic, and thought-provoking. I live for nights out with friends, travel with my partner, supporting friends’ businesses, my mom’s Arabic food, and glossy lips. My work has been published 150+ times and trusted by dozens of returning clients. I’ve worked with some large brands and educated for even bigger brands. I can name-drop later if you need the resume but I truly believe it’s less WHO I worked with + more about myself, my work, and my reputation.

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?

Resilience, Character, and Practice. I make jokes all the time that I am the personality hire. I know that I am talented, but I know the care and professionalism I provide on set get me the job every time. I care for people. I care about what I do and I love to laugh. Trust me, I am a serious get-down-to-business person but we are not curing cancer here. However, I might make a cancer patient feel beautiful or work on a set in a hospital and for that, it’s close enough to saving the day as I’ll ever get.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

I will teach you to be Rich by Ramit Sethi.

1. Negotiate your bills
2. Invest and schedule your investments/savings (HYSA, HSA, ROTH IRA)
3. Visualize your rich life

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Alicia from Mango Marketing Co

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