I’m Susan Iskiwitch. I’ve sold all of my furniture, packed up my clothes, pots and pans in my tiny hatchback and moved west from St. Louis to Los Angeles … only steps from the beach. I don’t have fancy clothes, and my shoes are definitely more Appalachian Trail than Rodeo Drive, but I’m hoping that my work ethic and passion will facilitate a successful career television production and development. I grew up in St. Louis, spent my high school years at a boarding school in Michigan and received my B.A. in Political Science from a liberal arts college in rural Ohio. When I graduated, rather than following my dreams of working in entertainment television (which meant possibly living off of ramen and Diet Rite), I forced myself find a desk job that’d make it appear to that I had “made it” as a business woman; so, I took work in strategic communications. While I have worked with wonderful clients who find/found my work compelling, I realized that just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean that you feel passionate about doing it. I also realized that passion and skill have to intersect for a satisfying career. I’ve always known that my passion lies in entertainment television, but until recently, I was afraid to give up my comfortable life and just “GO FOR IT.” I realized that now is the time … so here I am, blocks from the beach, attempting to make a go at it.
Television is all about telling stories that entertain and inspire. I’m a highly analytical person and very tightly wound (just speak with me for 5 minutes and you’ll see both of these facts firsthand). I have a really tough time “turning off” or relaxing; I absolutely commit to everything I do (this is both a blessing and a curse). I have found that the only time I find that I’m able to escape my hyper-sensitive world is when I’m either thinking about potential television shows or watching existing programs.
Currently I am truly enjoying my time working with industry-leading peers as a Los Angeles-based production assistant for a major network reality show and as a development and story intern/assistant for a production company responsible for programs on E!, Animal Planet and Bravo (among others). I am looking to secure a position in development or as a reality story producer or a scripted writer’s assistant.
While I am now living in Los Angeles and seeking career opportunities in television production and development, I am still available to take on small-scale digital marketing projects. I figure that I might as well help a few businesses with their digital strategy while I help myself transition into a new career. Please contact me using the link above if you’d like to partner or feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn and check out my recommendations there.
I am a creative, high-level strategic-thinking communications professional well versed in new/emerging media technologies to reach new markets and build visibility for business expansion and to gain competitive business advantage. I excel in integrating social media with traditional communications combined with the judgment to know which channel is most effective in reaching target audience. Before entering the world of strategic communications and working with Fortune 500 companies, I worked with local and national television networks.
Currently, I consult with:
“I have received no more than one or two letters in my life that were worth the postage.” -Henry David Thoreau, Walden (It’s a good thing that e-mail’s free, so contact me!)