Meet Ashley Zazzarino | Event Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Zazzarino and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I’ve always yearned for a good work-life balance, and actually, I think the pandemic really gave me the push I needed in order for that to become a reality. I was always extremely career-driven, meaning I would push myself beyond the limits and ignore my basic personal needs in order to prove myself and move up. It drove me to so much unhappiness, and not much success. I knew I wanted to have more control of my schedule, and therefore my life, so I quit my job working 50+ hours per week to freelancing in the live events industry.

I noticed I was calmer and more relaxed on a day to day basis. With freelancing, I could work when I wanted to, but most importantly, not work on certain days. That’s not to say I still don’t work hard, but I now have the mental and physical endurance to hustle for a solid week knowing that I will have a couple days the next week to recharge and reconnect with myself. It’s given me more time to spend with family, catch up on personal tasks, hobbies, or even just slow down and enjoy the sunshine. I’ve been incredibly lucky to thrive in this career pivot, but I think it’s mostly due to the fact that I’ve slowed down and enjoyed a healthier, more realistic work-life balance.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

After working in the television industry for 13 years, I decided to pivot into the live events industry. I started off as a teleprompter operator, which I really enjoy. Eventually, I made connections that led me to my current job as a Senior Producer with a creative and production design company called The Shoppe.

The hardest part was deciding to shift away from my dreams of being a television writer, but I am so happy with where I am now. I realized if things aren’t going your way, you can’t just sit and wish it were different. You have to make big and small changes to live the life you want to live. Sometimes the first step is coming to terms with that fact.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I always take visitors to the Griffith Observatory. LA is so vast, that taking it all in from up high is really stunning. In the past few years, downtown LA has been a go-to spot for me. A lot of really cool places are popping up there, from new restaurants to breweries that’s definitely worth checking out.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Michelle Michelson. She’s the owner of Prompster, a teleprompter rental and event services company. She was the catalyst in my career change and I wouldn’t be where I am right now if it weren’t for her.

Linkedin: linkedin.com/ashleyzazzarino

Image Credits
Ashley Zazzarino