Meet Meryl Jacobs | Award-Winning Video Editor / President, Gotham Edit

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

Hi Meryl, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve always been inspired by the arts, and driven to succeed at the things that are meaningful to me in my career. And so, my professional journey has been geared towards pursuing creative and gratifying work: from Advertising, to Broadway as a stage manager, to post-production, and eventually to award-winning video editor and business owner. While I’ve learned to pursue my professional goals from a positive and optimistic mindset, it hasn’t always been easy as there are challenges and hurdles along the way. But the key here is to keep believing in yourself and to keep moving forward, so you’re constantly learning, growing and adapting, and not to be distracted or discouraged by fear or self-doubt. This takes discipline, perseverance and the cultivation of a strong mindset.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Being a business owner is both thrilling and challenging. You need to be resilient, smart, motivated, and optimistic. Things change, so be flexible and ready for anything. As a first-time business owner, I learned how to run a business. I took seminars, read books, expanded my editing skills, networked. But the biggest lesson, I would say, is to know–and own–your value and self-worth and to have the courage to bring your special gift to the world.
As for why I started my own business, Gotham Edit (gothamedit.com), the timing was right. Coming out of the pandemic, I decided to move back to NY from the West Coast, and things organically fell into place and starting my own business was something I had been considering for some time. I felt confident that I had something truly valuable to offer both current and new clients, including the joy of collaborating and creating clever and sophisticated video content for my clients to connect and engage with audiences on a global scale. I’m expanding my client roster, so definitely reach out if I can support you.

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?
Well, I live in NYC, and there is an abundance of amazing things to do here! But a few of my favorites are: spending the day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, going for a bike ride in Central Park, seeing a Broadway show, going to a concert at Lincoln Center or Carnegie Hall, exploring the amazing plethora of great restaurants and cafes, and exploring endlessly fascinating neighborhoods from Soho to Greenwich Village to Nomad to Williamsburg and so many others! And also taking ferry rides to many of these neighborhoods. The list is endless!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would say there have been several key mentors and friends whose influence have shaped my career along the way. But my most important mentor I’d like to give a ShoutOut to is the late Gerry Schoenfeld, Chairman of the Shubert Organization, who mentored me when I had the opportunity to work on Broadway as a stage manager. I’ll never forget his generosity and the joy he got from helping and guiding others. The point is to cultivate awareness and presence in your ability to evaluate opportunities when they suddenly appear. And they will appear if you’re open and willing. Be ready.

Website: https://gothamedit.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meryl-j-3997b96/

Image Credits
Meryl Jacobs