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

Hi Nicole, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I think about risk as a positive and momentous thing, not something scary. Risk is akin to me as taking a chance and believing in oneself. I am immensely grateful and thankful to my parents for being a wonderful example. My parents have always instilled in me that with dedication, passion, honesty and hard work that I can do anything. Even though that sounds cliche, they also instilled in me a lust for life and taking chances and risks.

I’ve taken risks with jobs to leave a job when they no longer serve me and to stand up for myself always when something is wrong or I feel I have been taken advantage of – I have always spoken up for myself and I can 100% attribute that to my open and supportive relationship with both my parents, both individually and together.

I also have had a very diverse and exciting career path! I started working early in life, first with an internship as a Photo Researcher at Entertainment Weekly magazine advancing to Photo Researcher and Editor at Harper’s Bazaar magazine.

After working in New York at EW and Harpers, I took a big life and career risk and leap of faith by going from my childhood bedroom to a study abroad program living in London, England for a semester. The first time I lived away from family was in a different country!

After London, I continued working in various careers: Receptionist at Morgan Stanley, Architecture & Master Planning Department Coordinator at Walt Disney Imagineering, Product Development Coordinator at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Merchandise, Art Resource Center Coordinator at Disney Design Group, Executive Assistant to the President & Leadership Team at Florida Association of Realtors, Technology & Training Services Coordinator at California Association of Realtors, Communications Manager at Sea Save Foundation (Malibu), Interview Host & Editorial Writer at All Access Music Group (Malibu) and now Freelance Writer and Content Creator for my own Lifestyle brand and website: www.nicolederosa.com

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Tell us more about your art aka: www.nicolederosa.com:

I was never about pigeonholing myself in life or career. I have been wanting to put together my own Lifestyle website for decades. During Covid and quarantine, I really had the time to reflect, seek therapy and in turn realize that time was truly of the essence and I got started building, designing and writing content for my website right away. I have Life + Style which covers: Life + Style + Beauty + Travel + Design. Health + Wellness which covers: Mind + Body + Recipes + Giving Back. I am also working on new Interviews and putting together my Podcast.

I loved interviewing music artists but I really wanted to open the door to interviewing a diversity of people about themselves and discuss all kinds of things, not just related to one specific thing. I also wanted to write about anything under the sun. I want to be creative as well, so designing around the topic at hand, word play, researching and coming up with photo layouts really has gotten my creative juices flowing again and has been so therapeutic as well for myself personally and building and finding community on the interwebs!

What sets me apart from others?

As humans, we all have something that sets up apart from others in a good way, meaning, we all have different experiences, views, ideas etc. and putting them out into the world in a creative and artistic way whether it be through, design, writing, photography, film etc. it makes the world such a wonderful place. Diversity truly is the spice of life!

What I think sets me apart from others is the culmination of all my life experiences and career experiences that I infuse into my writings on my blog and website. I don’t want any topic to be taboo or off limits. I want to get rid of stigmas – especially stigmas with mental health. At the same time, I want to cover lighter topics as well so that is why I make it a point to have a spectrum of all kinds of categories on my website. I have so many interests and things to say and share and I get excited to hear from others and build a fun, open, diverse and creative community with my website. My Lifestyle website is for me and YOU.

What am I most proud of?

This past year, around March 2020, during Covid and quarantine, I am most proud of myself for finally seeking therapy for my Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD) disorder, Anxiety and Depression. I was able to find a wonderful therapist that I worked with virtually. That is also something I wrote about on my blog and I hope to inspire others to seek therapy. Happy, content or sad, everyone can benefit from therapy. I share resources because I don’t want others to give up because I know it is a huge step just to decide to start therapy and then to actually find the right therapist.

What am I most excited about?

I am SO excited to keep writing but also to launch my podcast, collaborate and engage with others all around the world. Stay tuned and sign up for my newsletter on my website for all the latest news and please reach out to me if you would like to collaborate with me on my podcast and my Lifestyle website: www.nicolederosa.com

How did I get to where I am today professionally?

I thrive on being creative. I feel like I am my best self when I am creative, writing and designing. As I said, the culmination of all my various careers have brought me to where I am today but also I have to say that Covid and being in quarantine really was the added catalyst to get me to fulfill a dream of working for myself. Like so many people during this pandemic, we have had to pivot in our careers and lifestyle.

I’ve always worked hard and I am super passionate about whatever I’m doing. I turn everything I do into an artform. I always give 100% to what I do and I wanted to be able to do that for myself after doing it for others for so long but I am beyond grateful to them and those careers because they were all my inspiration to get me to where I am today professionally!

Was it easy?

Hell no. lol – But I wouldn’t want it any other way.

If not, how did you overcome the challenges?

I learned to overcome challenges by being flexible, patient, open minded, asking questions (there are no stupid questions), delegating, being honest and asking for help. Asking for help is not easy, and I have learned there is nothing wrong with it and it is also empowering. I’ve always loved connecting people, so I thought, why am I holding myself back from connecting with people that I know directly when I myself need that help.

What are the lessons I’ve learned along the way?

I would say my answer is similar to how I overcame challenges in my life so far. I could add, that I’ve learned that nobody is perfect, that I don’t need to be an obsessive perfectionist, sleep is self care and health care. And, I’ve learned to trust my instincts and see where they take me because they usually have taken me to wonderful creative places!

What do I want the world to know about me, my brand and story?

I would like the world to know that me, my website, brand and my story are here to participate in making this world a better place. Why else are we all here and alive? We are not here to just push papers around on a desk or type behind a screen all day. We are here to share, engage and create. That is why I am here. We need more creatives and creativity and art in this world and I hope I inspire others as they have done for me.

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 love this question because I have always loved writing in my journal all the places I want to take my friends and family when they visit.

Here is a snapshot of where I would take them to eat, drink, visit, hang out etc.:

WHERE TO EAT IN L.A.:

1) Wabi on Rose – in Venice. Owned by my kick ass amazing friends, Tricia Small and architect Sam Marshall, Chef Rain Pantana has established a reputation as one of the premier sushi chefs in Southern California at this hotspot. I would eat anything Chef Rain prepares. Most of the time, I walk in and I just tell him to “surprise me”. When you go, tell Rain I sent ya! 🙂

2) Bondi Harvest – in Culver City. Bondi Harvest is an international food, lifestyle and cafe brand sharing Aussie beach vibes + nutritious Australian wholefood dishes with the world. Focussing on their cafes, cookbooks + recipes they strive to inspire + build a healthier, environmentally conscious community of food lovers. With a food style that sits somewhere between a young Jamie Oliver & a Corona, their inspiration comes from the laidback, sun-drenched essence of Bondi Beach. Their recipes are chock-a-block with sunny, seasonal, vibrant, & zingily fresh flavours, designed to be eaten & enjoyed with friends and family! The Bondi Harvest menu offers elevated simplicity with fresh, flavoursome food & ingredients that shine. Bondi Harvest is a MUST!

3) Sqirl – Bacon serving but vegan friendly, attuned to the rhythms of an L.A. day (breakfast until 4 p.m.). Hidden behind a flowering pink tabebuia tree on the edge of Los Angeles’ Silver Lake neighborhood, you will find Sqirl. Sqirl features reimagined classics, innovative specials & dishes you’ve never heard of before! I love their Sorrel Pesto Rice Bowl!

4) Palihotel – Melrose location. When it was called, the Palihouse, I loved their Sunday English roast in The Courtyard with my friends. I’m not sure if they still do this, but if not, they should! They have multiple locations around the city, but I like the Melrose location as it is filled with lots of fun memories!

5) Chateau Marmont – if you are looking for the quintessential L.A. people watching experience, eat and spectate (but you know…be cool about it) at this L.A. hotel hotspot.

WHERE TO DRINK IN L.A.:

1) E.P. & L.P. Rooftop and Restaurant in West Hollywood (re-opens May 10th!) The rooftop has expansive views of the Hollywood Hills and the Sunset Strip and is one of the largest rooftop patios in L.A. The rooftop features a global snack menu and hand crafted cocktail program that’s perfect for any get together, day or night. They also have a Dining Room as well!

2) Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel – Afternoon tea here is amazing! I’ve had afternoon tea in a lot of different places and this has been my favourite! The staff were very friendly and the food was amazing. I can’t recommend it enough and I would do it again.. The scones are beautiful! Also if your English or your friend is and missing a proper cup of tea it’s perfect!

3) Alfred Tea Room – Melrose Place location (but they have various others around the city) – This spot is truly worth the hype. My mouth is watering now as I think about their “Pink Drink” or the “Chagaccino” and chocolate croissant!

4) Yamashiro’s – they just reopened and with an all-new menu, revamped cocktail program, and plenty of open-air seating that includes encased tent covers and heat lamps. The name Yamashiro translates as “Mountain Palace” in Japanese. In 1911, the Bernheimer brothers began construction of the hilltop mansion to house their priceless collection of Asian treasures. Hundreds of craftsmen were brought from the Orient to recreate the replica of a palace located in the “Yamashiro” province mountains near Kyoto, Japan. Yamashiro sits 250 feet above Hollywood Boulevard and was completed in 1914.

5) Old Place – located in Cornell near Agoura Hills and Mulholland. Old Place is a saloon/restaurant in the Santa Monica Mountains and it is so special. During the late 1800s, it was a general store & post office, so its dusty, dimly lit bar isn’t some set piece from an old Western. In the 1970s, it was a blue-collar clubhouse for local outdoorsmen & outlaw celebs like Steve McQueen, so its denim-clad clientele aren’t underpaid actors in rental costumes. Everything here is the real deal.

MOST FUN + INTERESTING + THINGS TO DO IN L.A.:

1) Just a little bit outside of L.A. – When I lived in Malibu and nearby Calabasas, every year (prior to Covid obv) I loved doing the Annual Topanga Canyon Gallery Artist’s Studio Tour. Contact the Topanga Canyon Gallery for more info.

2) Griffith Observatory – Classic! Be sure to check out their Planetarium and Laserium shows!

3) Little Tokyo – I am obsessed with everything Japanese and love to take my family and friends

4) Self Realization Fellowship / Lake Shrine Temple – in Pacific Palisades

5) Charmlee Wilderness Park in Malibu

PLACES TO CHECK OUT IN L.A.:

1) Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice for shopping, drinking, eating, It has everything!

2) The Getty Center in Brentwood + Getty Villa in Malibu

3) Hollywood Farmers Market

4) Groundlings Theater + Comedy Store

5) Griffith Park Equestrian Center

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have a few absolutely wonderful people that I would like to dedicate my shoutout to if that’s okay?

As I said, my parents have always been rock stars with their efforts, support, love and encouragement.

My brother, Anthony, is a huge inspiration to me. He is an amazing brother and father to my wonderful niece and nephews. He is a journalist as well. He has always been so supportive of my ideas and so incredibly helpful. He is also someone that has inspired me to take chances in life.

I have also been lucky enough to have had some incredible and remarkable and beloved mentors in my life. I’m actually in the middle of writing a blog post about my beloved friend and former co-worker at All Access Music Group, “Jolly” Jerry Boulding, who was also known as “The Doctor of Radio”. Jerry made black radio thrive during a time when white stations were the only ones to play blues and soul. At 75 years young, following a short-term illness, my beloved friend, Jerry Boulding passed away on Thanksgiving evening, 2013 but I think about him all the time. What comes to mind whenever I think of Jerry, is his joyful laughter, his ray of sunshine smile, inquisitiveness and his lust for life and community. Jerry was always inquisitive about what I was working on as he saw my passion for interviewing music artists and we would swap all kinds of stories and he would give me invaluable pointers and feedback. Jerry always took the time every day to ask me about myself, my family and life. And I in turn, would ask him about the same things. I am forever grateful that our paths crossed. Shoutout to my beloved, “Jolly” Jerry Boulding in heaven!

When I worked at Entertainment Weekly in New York, I had a fun, fabulous, no nonsense boss and mentor named, Mary Dunn. Her and Doris Brautigan were instrumental for making me feel empowered, like my voice and ideas were heard and were just great woman to look up to during my first major job in the Big Apple!

I’d like to shout out my gem of a friend and gem of a human, Tricia Small who before we were friends, welcomed me into her home, her life, her career and most importantly, her heart. She is a rock star friend, mama bear, artist, creative, business owner (go check out her restaurant, Wabi in Venice, CA), guardian angel, volunteer. She is an inspiration to everyone who is blessed to be in her orbit.

I’d like to shout out my other gem of a friend and gem of a human, Shannon Sukovaty who has inspired me being a super creative being a performer, dancer, writer, director, biz owner and mama bear.

And lastly, I would like to shout out my truly amazing friend, Laura Linda Bradley who is a true renaissance woman: business owner, writer,artist, volunteer, activist and such a joyful and supportive human. I am lucky to call her my friend!

Website: www.nicolederosa.com

Instagram: nicolederosalifestyle

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolederosa

Twitter: peppermintriple

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolederosalifestyle/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHkImiIAVAKronxenikoQnw/videos

Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nicolederosalifestyle

Image Credits
Nicole DeRosa of Nicole DeRosa Lifestyle Wix.com

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