Meet Amanda Mazzo

We were lucky to catch up with Amanda Mazzo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Amanda, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
In 2020, our small business was fortunate to still have work, although it looked very different. Something internally shifted for me when the visibility of work went away and I started questioning what was left; who am I if I’m not “performing?” Through counseling, reading several books, and participating in the Brené Brown “Dare to Lead” cohort, I learned a lot about vulnerability, courage, and the importance of showing up authentically. I started confronting the lies I’d believed about myself for years and paying attention to the patterns of what truly makes my heart come alive. Around that time, my alma mater, Belmont University invited me to be a Purpose Mentor to collegiate juniors and seniors where I’d facilitate conversations around who the students were becoming vs. what they were achieving!

Another large part of discovering my purpose is understanding the call in my faith to be “salt and light” – salt as a preserving agent, but also enhancing flavor and drawing out the gifts I see in others while bringing light to a world that tends to hold a lot of darkness.
Through these experiences, I realized that my purpose is to encourage others as they discover their creative giftings; to defy comparison and lean in to those things that make you different or “weird.” It’s often in those differences where we find how we’re uniquely equipped to serve our corners of the world.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m an artist, a business owner, wife, and cat mom. I’ve lived in Nashville, Tennessee for 25 years and I love to travel, sing karaoke, and walk our beautiful greenways.

My husband and I founded Mazzo Media in 2013 – an award-winning creative studio in Nashville, TN where we work with people, brands, and organizations to help tell their stories through videography, photography, graphic design, and social content. We believe that we’re better together so we use our strong ties with local professionals for each unique project, working together as a seamless extension of our clients’ internal teams. My favorite part of the job is telling our clients’ stories! Whether it’s developing branding, designing cohesive marketing collateral, or capturing their ‘why’ on video, sharing our stories is what brings us together. Without them, we never realize that we actually have a lot more in common than we don’t.

Some exciting news: Mazzo Media is turning 10 this year! Since storytelling is at the heart of our business, it only made sense to celebrate by launching a podcast: “Doing Heart Things” features conversations around purpose-driven business at the crossroads of hard things and heart things and Season One is now available wherever you listen to podcasts. (You can also watch full episodes on Spotify and YouTube!)

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Curiosity, empathy, and a strong work ethic.

I’m a graphic designer who never formally studied graphic design. (I actually hold a Bachelor of Music degree!) For those starting out, I’m not saying don’t study for what you think you want to be. I am advising you to approach life with flexibility, knowing that your plans might (and will probably) change.

Regardless of the situation, if you can show up authentically, get comfortable with asking for help when you need it, hone your active listening skills, and remind yourself that making mistakes doesn’t make you a failure (mistakes are simply how we learn) – you’re going to be just fine in whatever career you choose.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My parents never once told me I couldn’t. They were always (and still are) my biggest cheerleaders, unconditionally loving me, praying for me, and walking with me; grieving every loss and celebrating every win. The most impactful thing they’ve done is be very present in my life.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Tausha Dickinson, Dani Drummond, Jason Mazzo

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Portraits of Resilience

Sometimes just seeing resilience can change out mindset and unlock our own resilience. That’s our

Mental Health
Mental Health: Inspiring Stories of Perseverance and Resilience

As the prevalence of mental health issues increases and affects an ever larger number of

Leadership Development
Developing Discipline: Stories & Insights

Many of the most impressive entrepreneurs and creatives in our community exhibit a high degree