Meet Mckenna Gonzalez | Fashion Marketing

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

Hi McKenna, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor behind my success has been my ability to embrace every opportunity that comes my way, even when it doesn’t align perfectly with my original career goals. Working in startup environments has been key to this, as they often require you to take on a variety of challenges and wear multiple hats. My background in buying, marketing, and digital marketing has allowed me to maintain a creative mindset while also developing a strong understanding of what truly drives results. Now, at Tenshoppe LA, I’m able to leverage this diverse skill set to approach campaigns with both creativity and strategic insight, ultimately creating content that resonates with the community and delivers measurable success.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As someone in my early 20s navigating the fashion and marketing world in LA, I’ve learned that opportunities don’t just land in your lap—you have to create them. Working in a startup environment has been like a crash course in branding and business, and I’ve worn every hat possible—from digital marketing and buying to celebrity styling. One day, I’m curating products; the next, I’m building out social media strategies or executing campaigns. But that’s what I love most—bringing a vision to life and making people feel something through branding.

Getting to this point wasn’t easy. While a lot of my peers were out enjoying life, I was juggling unpaid jobs, running on little sleep, and doing whatever it took to gain experience. On top of that, I didn’t live in LA, which meant commuting nearly two hours each way just to be in the right rooms. At one point, I was taking a train, subway, and bus just to make it to class and internships. But I kept going. I networked, stayed persistent, and said yes to opportunities that helped me build my skill set, even if they weren’t glamorous.

Now, I’ve had the privilege of running several campaigns at Tenshoppe LA, including working on the launch of the brand’s website (www.tenshoppela.com). The owners, Linda Chang and Esther Chang, have shown me the ropes and taken a chance on me—something I’ll forever be grateful for. Their mentorship has shaped my approach to marketing and taught me the importance of pushing boundaries and fostering creativity.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that kindness and relationships matter, especially in the fashion industry. It’s easy to get caught up in the competition, but at the end of the day, the people who support and uplift others are the ones who stand out. That’s the kind of career I’m building—one that’s driven by creativity, persistence, and a commitment to lifting others up along the way.

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.
If my bestie was in town, we’d start the day with a matcha run at Café Dulce, then hit up Tenshoppe LA for some shopping (because obviously, they need to leave with the best finds). After that, we’d get a game in of pickleball at Pickle Pop, and finally, wrap up the night with a cozy dinner at John & Vinny’s—because no LA trip is complete without it!

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?
As silly as it sounds, my senior year high school English teacher, Mr. Kennedy, played a huge role in shaping my career path. On the first day of school, he had us write a paper about our dream college and ideal career. At 17, I had no clue what I wanted to do, and honestly, the idea of deciding my future was overwhelming. But that assignment got me thinking. I realized I had always been drawn to anything fashion-related—whether it was reading about the industry, watching runway shows, or fangirling over creative campaigns. That’s when it clicked: I wanted to go to FIDM and pursue merchandising, marketing, and eventually digital marketing. So, thank you, Mr. Kennedy, for pushing me to discover my passion.

Website: https://mckennagonzalezporfolio.my.canva.site/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckenna-gonzalez-a564411b2

Image Credits
MCKENNA GONZALEZ