Meet Arabella Reece | Special Events Manager – Sony Pictures Entertainment

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

Hi Arabella, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I grew up in Temecula, CA with my 2 parents and my twin brother. I had a great childhood and I kept busy from a young age with a jam-packed extracurricular schedule. I was always involved in clubs and sports, usually multiple at once. My parents always encouraged me to try new things. They were, and still are, firm believers that I could succeed in anything if I worked hard enough. I eventually turned my main focus to academics and running, going on to run in college and becoming the first ever female runner from Chapman University to compete at Nationals for Cross Country! I still kept some passion projects on the side such as music to maintain a sense of creativity and balance.

I am now the Manager of the Events Department at Sony Pictures Entertainment. At only 24 years old, my college career is still at the forefront of my mind and I definitely have a runner’s mindset in my professional life. Consistency, endurance, focus, self-motivation, and knowing results will come with time are all values I stand by. I also keep myself very busy since I grew up knowing I can always do more with my time. There’s always room to grow!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My career is only just beginning but has been filled with quick growth. I think the reason is because of a couple basic principles.

The first is embracing all the things that interest me and being open to all opportunities. I never knew exactly what I wanted to do, which I used to think was a fault of mine. As time goes on, I’m starting to use it as a strength – I just needed to learn how to! It takes a lot of self-reflection to tie things together. But, I am a firm believer that the lessons that you learn through anything can be applied to most, if not all, other areas of your life. I was an Academic & Admissions Advisor for a few years and this was a big thing I would talk to students about if they felt like their interests & experiences were scattered. I still wonder nearly every day what my deep-rooted passion is and how I’ll get there, but I know that the current path I’m on is helping me learn so much for the greater journey of my life.

Secondly, I learned at a young age to do all things with intention, even the smallest steps. It’s an easy thing to overlook, but people notice! I was never the very best at anything naturally; I just worked extremely hard at the small details. A good example for when this is beneficial is when someone finds themself in a seemingly unrelated job to what they’re hoping to do. Learning to do your best in the little every day things not only instills good habits in you for when the opportunity does arise, but also makes others respect you for the way you uphold yourself in. Not in a flashy, performative way though; it’s a mindset. I was a tour guide all through college and became a tour guide for the Sony Lot after graduation. This was not my dream job, but I liked it and had a great resume for it. It was only 2 months into working at Sony that I got asked to come work in the Special Events Department. From there I was quickly promoted from Coordinator to Senior Coordinator, and now Manager after only 2 years. It’s a classic “gets discovered on the movie lot” story, but hey – it worked! I’m super proud and excited to keep growing in this role!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Fun question! I think you have to embrace both the city and the nature to get a classic LA experience. We’d definitely hit The Getty during the day because you get the stunning views and the great art. Plus, it’s free! So much to do food-wise so restaurants are hard to choose. I’d go casual for lunch and funky small plates/wine bar for dinner. I love live music and dancing so I’d probably either take them to a concert at the Palladium or out to one of my favorite themed bars. My best friends and I hit Desert 5 Spot regularly – it’s always the best time! I’m still trying to find time to explore the city myself so I’m not very well-versed on all the hip neighborhoods or the fashion scene. Maybe I’ll make that a goal for 2025!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m definitely going to shout out my parents! I know I already mentioned them, but they are the reason I am everything that I am. They’ve taught me so many values both individually and as a partnership. As I get older, I learn more about them as people and that is a huge reward in itself.

My mom has taught me the power of being vocal and strong, identifying your natural-born strengths and using them for career growth, and how to fit everything into a full life. My dad is the reason I can harness my emotions and turn them into motivation; he has taught me to pursue success in silence, to embrace any and all forms of creativity, to lead with kindness and patience, and to be a life-long learner.

Thanks, Mom & Dad!!! I love you guys!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arabella_reece

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arabella-reece-105659227

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6xrMXQbmBqEIdEeTF0DES2?si=SmV7_wCRR6aKOPjrYajajQ

Image Credits
Lizzie Bromley