We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tena Parker. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tena below.
Tena, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Where Did My Resilience Come From?
It’s not from a textbook or a corner office. My resilience comes from a nontraditional place: being ADHD and a bit on the spectrum. As Lady Gaga belts, “I was born this way!” At 60, I see it’s a blessing—a magical combo that powers creators, leaders, and dreamers like me.
ADHD and autism aren’t deficits; they’re my letters. I’m fearless, energetic, a problem-solver who sees angles others miss. That’s what has made me a successful hairstylist for the film industry for 37 years. Challenges? They’re not walls—they’re dopamine hits. I chase new experiences, not perfection, and that’s why I’m never intimidated, just hyped.
Leading Uniting Film Artisans, a 501c3 nonprofit, wasn’t on my bingo card. No one taught me how to build a free membership based platform for crew—grips, gaffers, PAs—with uniqe profiles with a 30 intro video, job boards, video rooms, and a marketplace (2% tip keeps us going). But I saw artisans struggling, so I walked forward in faith. My brain doesn’t do “stay still,” so I didn’t. That’s resilience: not waiting for permission.
If you’ve been called lazy, broken, or “not trying hard enough” stop believing those accusations. You’re not broken. You may have letters like me! Having “Letters” is my superpower. Once I stopped apologizing for my brain, I started leading with it. And damn, it’s powerful. Join us at UnitingFilmArtisans.org Donations are welcomed!
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?
How did you find your purpose
I am a second generation department head hairstylsit for the film industry with over 70 credits to my name, leading shows like glee, how I met your mother, Hawaii Five-O and a personal hairstylsit for Robert Redford and Miley Cyrus. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0662712/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
Many may not be aware of the Millions who are struggling in the film industry. Incentives from other countries have drawn producitons away form the US. We have been hit (like the world) with Covid, a double industry strike lasting 148 days, a pending 2nd strike (for IATSE agreements) in 2024, preventing producitons out of fear of another strike to limit producitons that year. Then the January 2025 Fires in the Pacific Palisades and through out the Los Angeles areas. Least we not forget the advandcements of AI technology wher film crews are being completly replaced. I decided to create somnething to bring us togerther and offer hope. I invested my own retirment into my community. A free membership based nonprofit community platform with only user experience I saw clearly in my God Given ADHD brain….I amn not a coder. But I knew in my soul, the vision I saw was possible. With Hyper-focus, I built UnitingFilmArtisans.org, a 501c3 nonprofit with free profiles, job boards, and video rooms to connect, educate, elevate. No fees—artisans need cash, not costs. When the IRS stamped us 501c3, I cried—chosen for this mission. We’re undiscovered treasure, waiting to be found! Join us at UnitingFilmArtisans.org to shine together. Donations are welcome.
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?
my 3 most Important Qualities, Skills and areas of Knowledge are:
-Brave: My friends tell me they wish they were brave like me. They see confidence; I see a dopamine chase.
-Neurodivergent Brain:My ADHD or as I call it, “My“Letter” They’re rocket fuel.
-Confidence: I don’t sweat about what others think of me, I never have. It’s a blessing, really. While some freeze over opinions, I’m already halfway up the mountain, problem-solving like it’s a game. Failure? Not a wall, just a puzzle. That’s why I built Uniting Film Artisans from nothing—a 501c3 to lift every crew member. No playbook, just passion. May I recommend, If you’re wired different, own it. The world needs your spark, not your apology. Join us at UnitingFilmArtisans.org.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
UnitingFilmArtisans.org is being paced solely by funding. I have to remind myself daily, “It is God’s timing not mine.” I walk daily in faith to make this FREE member based platform a success for my film community who are suffering.
You see, I am bootstrapping it myself, using my own retirement. I am living paycheck to paycheck with huge costs, that by miracle after miracle are being paid. I am hoping to do a soft launch, waiting on funds for my nonprofit attorney to write up my contracts to protect the company and myself.
Costs continue to ad up for Coders, Trademark attorney, Business of Charity (to file as a nonprofit and Grant submissions, since I received my 501(c)3 determination. letter from the IRS in Aug. 2025. My brand builder, to help with design of the platform, Administrative costs, Podcast manager, Attorney for Terms of Service and contracts for cofounders and so much more.
My biggest area of growth has been my faith, seeing daily his hand in this, and giving me the courage to continue.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://share.google/MVyc7fb1dI8wuySmQ
- Instagram: https://share.google/krIpv8QFFEcRw3A01
- Facebook: https://share.google/z7Xq9uFhkdtcPVC3N
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYCwWuRNf1Pk022jCNbMxKg
- Other: https://share.google/RRUWxaiprVDBYjPZ4
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