Hey! So nice to speak with you! Can you tell our readers a little bit more about yourself? Where are you originally from and where do you live now?

Well, my entire family is originally from Hamburg, Germany, but I mostly grew up in Washington D.C. and went to a German school there. I studied in Boston, and then moved to Los Angeles about ten years ago.

Tell us one thing you love about each place?

I visit Germany nearly every year, and Hamburg still blows me away. The "Speicherstadt" is the world's largest warehouse district, built on the port, with parks, boat tours, cafes, bars, and it's always my first stop in the city. DC is my first home, it's where I went to high school, so I have great memories there, mostly connected to the people. Boston, well, I'll stand by the fact that Boston is probably one of the most fun places to study - it's a college town, so everyone is in a similar mindset and chapter of their lives. Los Angeles is huge, sprawling and overwhelming, and it took me a while to find my footing, but when I did, it was magical. What I love most about LA, is the potential to make anything you can think of. Most of us have come here to pursue some crazy idea and be in creative fields, and so, if you want to shoot that movie, produce that play, organize that art show... the resources and talent are all around you. You just have to connect the dots.

Tell us a little bit more about what your company does and how it started? How does it help your customers?

Since moving to Los Angeles, I have worked for a variety of studios and agencies, usually as a Field or Post Producer. I love being a Producer - it's varied, creative, collaborative work, and I genuinely never thought I'd be doing anything else. There was always this one pain point for me though: Any time we had to hire a crew or team of freelancers on short notice - which was all the time - it would send me and my office into a frenzy. We'd text friends, cousins, coworkers, I'd scroll through directories, post to Facebook, hire expensive staffing agencies, and each time it felt unnecessary. How difficult could it be to create a trusted network of media professionals to access when we needed it? How hard could it be to build a platform where I can search and book qualified freelancers instantly, without the stress, red tape, and prohibitive fees? Well, it turns out it's quite hard, ha. But in Wrangle we've built the creative networking and staffing site I always knew could and should exist. It's a space where creative collaborations can thrive, and where both the hiring manager and freelancer can feel confident in exploring new connections and opportunities.

What was one feedback from a happy customer/client that you won’t forget about?

We take a lot of care in curating a trusted network, and creating feedback loops that ensure a positive experience for both client and vendor. Just a week ago, I received a lovely note from a freelancer who was hired to be on a high-visibility campaign through our site. She raved about the project and her team, and the opportunity to work on one of her favorite shows. A few days later I received a note from the hiring manager on said project, who gushed about her work, her creativity and the positive energy she brought to their set. Connecting great people with great projects and helping everyone involved be successful is the ultimate reward.

What was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

My teen playlists are far too embarrassing to share here, but in terms of athletes I'd have to go with Michael Jordan. I played high school basketball in DC while MJ was playing for the Washington Wizards, so I actually got to see him play! Also, I loved Space Jam.

Where do you see your company in the future?

I want every working professional to own a Daily Work Journal! I see the journals in Target, Anthropologie, and Urban Outfitters. I also want them to be included in swag boxes for new hires at different companies.

What’s the biggest misconception about your industry?

The first common misconception is that it's glamorous. Creative industries are fun, no doubt, and we are very lucky. But there are many sleepless nights spent in editing rooms, long hours shooting in hot parking lots, client calls at midnight -- it's a grind. The second is that people are all crazy egomaniacs. There are some, sure. But our industry is collaborative by nature and necessity. Most people I've encountered are team players, and are open to helping you get ahead if you show you are dedicated.

What’s one mistake you made in the beginning and what did you learn from it?

I naively thought bringing people onboard would be a cakewalk: I am offering great job opportunities and a pool of vetted professionals at no cost. What's not to like? I very quickly learned that in asking people to join our community, we were asking for their trust and their time. And that is no small ask!

If someone wants to start a business, what's advice that will help them?

This may be specific to my personality type, but I'd say: Don't be intimidated. I am a liberal arts school student. I have no background in business or law or management... but it's been such a thrill for me to navigate these waters and in the end, building something out of nothing - be that a story, a film, a brand, a business - is truly a creative endeavor. It's been really fun for me.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

Head over to our website at www.wrangle.work, or follow us on Instagram via wrangle.work