Francesca Baillie
Social Media Marketer / Marketing Coordinator
Los Angeles, CA
Q What do you do?
“Hey there! My name is Francesca, but my friends call me Fran.”
I am a recent graduate from Northeastern University's College of Arts, Media, and Design seeking full-time or part-time creative employment. I have worked Social Media Marketing internships during college in both the fashion industry and insurance (two very different ends of the spectrum, I know). I am currently residing in LA, looking to expand my skill set for any creative agencies seeking a dilligent, dynamic, and bubbly individual that is easily adaptable and loves to be apart of the creative process of social campaigns/content creation. I thrive in collaborative settings where I am able to bounce ideas off of others and come up with awesome ideas. I'd love to continue my passion for creating for any company with a cool mission, good culture, and is made up of unique individuals that I can learn from and be inspired by.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I've always found personal growth in travel, lots of self reflection through writing and gratitude journaling, as well as connecting with others. As a recent college graduate, I am getting familiarized with life outside of school and classes. It has been a bit of an adjustment, but nonetheless an exciting one. I've found that work-life balance is really important for recharging and being able to maintain creativity.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I possess a natural ability to adapt, coupled with experiences in the fashion/beauty, insurance, and hospitality industries. These diverse professional backgrounds have provided me with invaluable perspectives and a wellspring of creative ideas when it comes to crafting compelling brand content. I effortlessly embrace versatility and enjoy wearing many hats throughout the process. I have also gained experience as a cashier, hostess, student, intern, and stylist assistant. Each of these roles has endowed me with unique insights, created meaningful connections with others, enhanced my cultural competence, and expanded my skill set. These multifaceted experiences has shaped me into the person I am today. I have consistently gleaned valuable skills and knowledge from each role, successfully applying them to my next role, and thus created a continuous cycle of personal and professional growth. I am constantly evolving and learning and thoroughly embrace that process!
Q What are you working on right now?
I am currently a Content Creator for Laurie Harden, a Personal Stylist based in San Francisco (@lauriehardenstylist on Instagram). Fashion has always been a creative outlet for me and passion. I have been enjoying learning about fabrics, how to make men/women feel more confident in themselves through what they wear, what colors look best on various complexions and skin tones, and how fashion and style can be an expression of someones personality and how they view the world. When i'm not working for Laurie, I work a part-time job in hospitality. I love people and fostering connections with others. I am able to connect to my introverted and extroverted self through both those jobs which has been a wonderful balance.
When I am not working for Laurie or as a part-time hostess, I have developed a love for taking film photos. I recently refurbished my dad's Fuji 1000 Discovery camera and have been capturing many wonderful moments shared with others over the last few months.
I find an abundance of inspiration from my close friends, family, and nature and have been thoroughly enjoying capturing these special moments and finding beauty in every day.
Q What’s your style?
When it comes to my personal style, I gravitate towards a palette of neutral tones and colors. Incorporating vibrant hues and bold patterns into my wardrobe has never been my strong suit, as I find it more challenging to curate a cohesive capsule wardrobe around them, despite my love for them. However, when it comes to home decor, it's an entirely different story. I love for an abundance of colors, patterns, textures, natural light, lush greenery, and an overall sense of vibrancy. Just like humans, homes possess their own unique personalities, and I find joy in bringing out the colors and patterns that accentuate their individual character. In my next life, I aspire to be an interior designer, but for now, I'll satisfy my passion by creating home decor Mood Boards on Pinterest.
Feel free to explore my board here for some home decor ideas!
With all of that being said, I have been able to reflect my style and taste in the content I have created for the fashion brands I've worked for while still adhering to their personal brand identity. "
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
I am eager to further develop my expertise in brand management and contribute to enhancing a brand's social media presence, ultimately helping them achieve their goals. The creative journey of shaping a brand identity is not only captivating but also serves as a constant source of inspiration for me. Through my internship experiences, I have had the privilege of assisting numerous brands in defining and refining their brand identity and voice, enabling them to authentically embody their desired image. This process has been immensely fulfilling and enjoyable. While it does require patience and experimentation, the final results are undeniably gratifying.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
I wouldn't say theres anything frustrating me right now, but rather I am finding it a bit challenging to navigate and find my footing in post-grad life. It’s a mix of a really exciting yet intimidating time. I feel that I have lots of opportunity at my disposal to shape the life I want, but very unsure and indecisive about the direction to head in. Growing pains, I suppose!
Similarly, since there is so much opportunity out there, I want to dip my toes into everything that seems interesting. The negative of this is that it could ultimately lead to spreading myself too thin, but the positive is that by trying new things and being a part of many projects I am able to expand my skillset, learn new things about myself and others, and ultimately have more of a direction as to where I would like to see my professional journey head.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
I have two answers, both of which would be incredibly beneficial:
1) Mindful Break Assistant: I would love to have someone to remind me to take regular breaks throughout the day, encouraging me to step away from work, relax, and engage in activities that rejuvenate your mind and body. Though I love the work that I do, working on social media/online all day can be exhausting for not only my eyes, but my mind and body. It's easy to get wrapped up in work, sitting at a desk all day, and forgetting to move your body, so having someone to encourage healthy habits of stepping away would be lovely!
*The second one I think would be great for anyone working in social media, graphic design, or operating a business entirely online. Fun fact, i've actually had a friend ""hire"" me to do this for her when her email was getting out of control and she felt overwhelmed by it!
2) Digital Clutter Organizer: Having someone take on the task of organizing and decluttering my digital life. This person would help sort through emails, clean up computer files, and streamline my digital workspace, making it easier for me to find what I need quickly. Email subscriptions you don't remember singing up for can often times build up, and it can be overwhelming trying to figure out the best way to organize your life online especially with all the calendar app options out there. Having someone be able to do this so you don't have to spend time sifting through countless files on your computer would be a game changer.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
Oh boy, I have a few of these. Some of the topics I find fascinating or are of top of mind as a recent college graduate are:
- Artificial Intelligence and its impact on society/the future of digital marketers
- Sustainable agriculture and food production methods
- Strategies for effective leadership and management
- Financial investments and how to manage money responsibly when you are young in order to set yourself up in the future
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
Full-time, part-time, or freelance content marketing, brand managment, or social strategy work. I am in a unique and transitional time period where I can/am willing to let any opportunity direct my future. I have lots of free time on my hands and am looking to help out wherever I can! I am creative, diligent, dynamic, and love to expand my knowledge of different brands/industries.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
I am passionate about health and wellness, specifically holistic health, so any collaboration with a brand in that realm would be a dream. A few brands across a range of industries that I love are:
- Ritual
- Goop
- Thrive Market
- Daily Harvest
These brands leverage strategic partnerships to tap into new audiences, strengthen their brand image, and foster a sense of community within the health and wellness industry. I am a strong advocate for using social media for good, to spread factual information and to promote products with ingredients that are truly good for you. My goal as a content marketer is to be apart of change, not the problem -- and with all the misinformation around health circulating the media, I believe in the power of using social media to spread factual information to audiences in a creative, aestheically pleasing, and more easily digestible way (no pun intended)."
Q What is your rate?
$30/hour
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Preferred form of communication: francesca.baillie33@gmail.com
Q Who is a creative you admire?
Some instagram accounts I love and find inspiration from: @shutthekaleup @90samerica @90sanxiety @archdigest and (of course) @ilovecreatives!
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Creativity Haiku: one cup of coffee, a deep inhale and exhale, a fun journal prompt.
This member profile was originally published in June 2023