Maya R. Asher
Brand & Social Strategist / Content Marketing / Creative Direction & Production
Los Angeles, CA / Seattle, WA
www.mayarupaasher.com
instagram @mayarupaasher
linkedin
pinterest
Q What do you do?
“I’m a brand and social strategist who helps lifestyle, design, and consumer brands figure out how they show up in the world.”
My work spans social and content strategy, creative direction, campaign development, and hands-on content production — from the initial idea to the final edit.
I love finding the intersection between what makes a brand unique, what an audience actually cares about, and what makes people stop scrolling. Whether I’m building a social presence from scratch, developing a recurring content series, or finding new ways to tell a brand’s story, I bring both the big-picture thinking and the hands-on creative skills to bring it to life.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
Early in my career, I said yes to just about everything. Covering social media and creative project management after a team was let go? Yes, absolutely. Filling in for a copywriter on maternity leave? Let’s do it.
That willingness to learn as I went eventually led me to leave a stable, well-paying job to pursue freelance work without knowing exactly where it would take me. My career hasn’t been linear, but trusting myself to figure things out along the way has gotten me pretty far. And, of course, taught me the importance of QuickBooks and Asana.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I’ve spent 10+ years working across brand, content, and social, which means I understand both the bigger picture and the details that make an idea work. I can zoom out to think about brand positioning and audience behavior, then zoom in to develop the concept, write the copy, edit the video, and figure out how it all comes together across platforms. I like finding the story or unexpected angle that makes a brand feel distinct, rather than relying on trends for the sake of trends. Ultimately, I bring a mix of strategic thinking, creative curiosity, and meticulous planning.
Q What are you working on right now?
Right now, I’m working on two projects that fall a little outside my career trajectory but very much within my passions.
The first is getting my pilot’s license. My dad has his, and I’ve seen the joy, freedom, and community it’s brought him. I started working toward mine between client projects last year, and it’s been a lesson in discipline, patience, and trusting the process.
The second is project managing a down-to-the-studs remodel for a friend after a flood. It’s the perfect mix of creativity and logistics — coordinating with crews, visiting showrooms, and watching something take shape from the ground up. There’s something really satisfying about being part of a project that brings an idea to life in a completely different way.
Q What’s your style?
My style sits somewhere between editorial storytelling, visual curiosity, and a healthy appreciation for the unexpected. I’m drawn to work that feels thoughtful but not overly polished, with a strong point of view and a story worth telling.
My work for Society6 reflects my strategic side: finding creative ways to translate a brand’s identity into engaging, repeatable content. My
Nectarine Magazine feature, A Stiff Drink in a Dark Bar, is a more personal expression of my taste, combining 35mm photography and art direction to bring an editorial concept to life.
Across both, I’m interested in the details that make something memorable and finding a balance between a clear idea and room for a little personality.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
I wish I could spend more time working on brand marketing. It’s where I started my career, and it still holds a special place in my heart. I try to sneak at least one brand marketing project into my year because I love the process of taking something from a big-picture idea all the way through to the finished product. There’s something so satisfying about connecting all the dots and watching a brand come to life. Maybe it’s the part of me that loves a good plan, a cohesive visual identity, and seeing all the little details click into place, but it’s the kind of work I’ll always have a soft spot for.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
My own resistance to networking and outreach. I genuinely love meeting new people and know how valuable it is for my career, but figuring out when and where to do it feels like a job in itself. Between client work, to-do lists, and all the mundane things that keep work moving, networking tends to fall into the “I’ll get to it later” category. And somehow, later never comes and I’d like to change that.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Outreach. Please just find me the people who need my services, introduce me, and get the ball rolling. I love the work I do; I just wish finding the work didn’t feel like a full-time job in itself.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I’d tell myself not to be so embarrassed about making short-form content, especially when it came to my own account. In the early days of TikTok, I had an account where I talked about brand marketing, trend forecasting, visual identity, and creative direction. I built a really lovely community, and some of those people are still my friends today.
But I got caught up in worrying about whether it was “cringey” and what my peers might think. Looking back, creating that content helped me get better at my job, gave me a space to experiment, and could have been a great portfolio piece. The funny thing is, I genuinely loved doing it.
I think getting older has taught me that most people are too busy worrying about themselves to care nearly as much as you think they do. I wish I’d spent less time second-guessing something I enjoyed and more time just letting myself do it.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
I’d love to sit down with someone who really understands business development. My parents ran their own businesses when I was growing up, so I’ve always been curious about the business side of things, but I’d love to understand it on a bigger scale. Partly out of genuine curiosity, and partly because I know a deeper understanding of how businesses grow, make decisions, and find opportunities would make me better at what I do in brand and social marketing.
On a more fun and personal level I would love to pick the brains of interior designs, psychologists and astronomers.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I’m especially drawn to lifestyle, design, fashion, interiors, food and beverage, travel, and wellness, and love working with people who are passionate about what they do. I’m open to both one-off projects and ongoing partnerships, whether that means leading the strategy, getting hands-on with content creation, or taking social and marketing off a busy team’s plate.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
I enjoy working with people who are excited about their business and ideas, and helping bring that spark to life through thoughtful storytelling and strong visuals.
I also love taking social media and marketing off the plate of busy business owners who understand how important it is, but don’t necessarily have the time or bandwidth to give it the attention it deserves.
Q: What is your rate?
My rates depend on the scope of work, but I’m happy to work within an established budget whenever possible. I love collaborating on projects people are genuinely excited about, and I’m open to adjusting deliverables or scope to find an approach that works for everyone.
I work on both a project basis with a set budget and an hourly basis when more flexibility makes sense. The best place to start is a conversation about your goals, scope, and budget so we can figure out what makes the most sense.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
I’d love an intro that gives me a little context before we chat: what the project is, what you’re hoping to achieve, and a general budget. A few examples of brands or people you think are doing great things in your industry (and why) are always helpful, too. The more I understand what you’re working toward and what you’re drawn to, the better. A little inspiration goes a long way!
Shoot me a message through my website mayaasher.com and let’s chat.
Q Who is a creative you admire?
John B. Peterson! You can find him at www.john4john.com.
He built me a custom website AND a backend that allows me to edit the whole site myself. Ideating and concepting a website can be so daunting – he was super helpful in taking the process step-by-step while making sure it reflected the story I wanted to tell.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
By staying curious and paying attention. Inspiration can be anywhere — the patterns on my childhood quilt, light coming through half-open curtains, or a walk on the beach. Sometimes you just have to slow down, take it all in, and see what sticks.
This member profile was originally published in October 2026.