Shannon Ino
Creative Producer
Freelance Project Manager /Artist / Mover / Founder
Los Angeles, CA
www.shannon-ino.com
instagram @shannonino
Q What do you do?
“I manage projects from conception to completion. I make sure that everyone has everything they need to get their work done.”
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
My first real job after college was at a start-up clothing line that my friend from college started. I was basically her first employee and we both had no experience in what it took to run a clothing brand, so we were learning everything along the way. There were multiple situations in which I had no idea what to do but I just figured it out. You just have to have that mentality when you work at as start-up. You learn to become a jack-of-all-trades because there are only a few people at the company. I enjoyed this environment because I gained experience in multiple areas and learned what I excelled at and what I wasn't so good at. I worked with my friend for a couple of years and then bounced around a bit because I moved out of state. When I moved back to CA I ended up back at my friend's company, but this time in a Project Manager role because she needed help managing all of the different projects that were going on as the company had grown quite a bit since I left.
After working as a Project Manager for about a year, I decided that I wanted to transition into the marketing industry to gain more experience in social media marketing. I ended up at a small digital marketing agency in downtown LA. I started as a Social Media Community Coordinator and transitioned into a Creative Project Manager + Producer. Because the agency had never had a project manager before, I was able to help create and implement the project management process for the agency.
I enjoy working for small companies/start-ups because that means their processes usually aren't set in stone quite yet so they're able to pivot and adjust to what works best for the company as it grows.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
Bad time management and panicking when things don't go as planned.
Good time management skills are key, not just in marketing, but in all industries. As a project manager, you not only have to manage your time, but you have to manage other people's timelines so that projects don't get off track.
Things are always going to go wrong, but you need to be able to pivot and roll with the punches. You need to be able to analyze and problem-solve quickly without panicking.
Q What are you working on right now?
I'm currently freelance project managing for a small digital marketing agency based in Oakland, CA and taking on some small projects on the side.
Q What’s your style?
I would describe my style as minimal tomboy and sometimes eclectic.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
I would like to produce more photoshoots/videos for a variety of different brands. Since I have a background in fashion, I've been lucky enough to style and help art direct a lot of the photoshoots I've produced. I'm hoping to be able to do more of that for brands.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
Networking and connecting with the right people to work with.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Client outreach.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
To network more, to come out of my shell earlier.
To experiment more.
Especially during college and right after I graduated.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
Running a business and what exactly it takes to freelance full time.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I'm currently looking for opportunities with small businesses or boutique agencies who need help with project management and operations. I'm also open to collaborating with companies or brands who are looking for project management help on one off projects. It's very important to me to make sure that the relationship is a good fit before committing to a project.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
My ideal job or collaboration would be to project manage and produce content for fashion brands.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
First, I would like to hear how they heard about me. Then I would like to discuss the budget, scope and why they'd want to work with me.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
I'm constantly looking for inspiration.
This member profile was originally published in October 2017, Updated February 2020.