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Interview by JOSEPH
G. NAZEL, JR.
Q&A:
Q:
Did you have a particular career goal in
mind?
SHELBY: Basically, the
entertainment industry provided a training
ground for me. I went in with an open mind,
and said, ‘I’m going to learn
everything I can.’ If it’s creative
and of interest to me, as long as I’m
going forward, I’m going there.
And so, by keeping that open mind, while
at the same time moving forward, I had expertise
in more than one area and found myself in
marketing.
I am now overseeing all of the departments.
By not pigeonholing myself in terms of my
career path, I think has been the major
contributing factor to my success. I oversee
60 people, and I report directly to the
president.
Q: How does it feel to
reach this level so early in your career?
SHELBY: It’s not
a sense of power. For me, it is more a sense
of gratitude. I understand that this all
came about by the grace of God. Yes, it
has taken hard work and perseverance, but
also a great deal of luck that goes along
with it, and you have to be prepared for
those opportunities.
By virtue of this position, now, I hope
to give back. I can help that next person
that’s trying to get in.
Q: Why
have you been so successful?
SHELBY: I think the asset that
has contributed to my success is being willing
to do some jobs that some people didn’t
want to do. Everybody wants the glamour
jobs. It is the minutia that I deal with.
I deal with the day-to-day inner workings
of the department. That’s relationships.
That’s keeping people happy. That’s
filmmaker relations. That’s a lot
of non-glamorous stuff. But by virtue of
doing that non-glamorous stuff, I made myself
invaluable.
It’s in the details, and the willingness
to do whatever it takes. You have to do
it, and not whine about it, or look for
a pat on the back. Just do it. Show commitment
to the job.
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