Sara, Sr. Writer/Creative Director at Starbucks Corporation: Advize Career Interview
A career path from an English major and active college involvement in theater and film, to virtual reality freelancing, and finally a Senior Writer/Creative Director role at Starbucks, showcases a dynamic journey.
This professional's success highlights the importance of strong writing and communication skills, particularly the ability to pitch ideas effectively. A typical day involves diverse projects, requiring research, writing, and collaboration.
The industry is described as friendly and collaborative, filled with passionate individuals. To thrive, continuous learning, diverse skill development, and proactive networking are essential.
Entry-level roles like internships or coordinator positions offer valuable experience. Success in this field depends not only on creative ideas, but also on effectively executing and selling them.
Three key lessons for career advancement are: fostering collaboration, honest self-assessment, and proactive communication. College participation in clubs, networking, and learning from peers proved invaluable.
This professional’s experience demonstrates a rewarding and challenging career path filled with creative expression and collaboration, readily accessible to ambitious students.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Sara Beil
Sr. Writer/Creative Director
Starbucks Corporation
UCLA
English, Writing & Education, English
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Creative
Honors Student
Watch all of this Advizer's videos below
Career Path of a Senior Writer and Creative Director at Starbucks
Sara's career path, beginning with an English major and "a lot of clubs" in college, including a student-run theater group and film club, led to film development internships and a pivot to virtual reality after realizing a traditional film path wasn't desired. This VR experience, including freelance work with a partner, eventually transitioned into themed entertainment, culminating in Sara's current role at Starbucks—a connection facilitated by a college friend from their student theater club.
Main Responsibilities Of A Senior Writer Creative Director At Starbucks
Sara's main responsibilities as Starbucks' Senior Writer/Creative Director involve "writing and ideating," requiring a broad knowledge base to create compelling experiences; the role also demands significant collaboration with diverse teams and the crucial skill of confidently "pitching" ideas—a transition from a writer's reserved nature to a bold creative director.
A Day In The Life Of A Senior Writer And Creative Director At A Themed Entertainment Agency
A day for a senior writer and creative director at Starbucks, like Sara, is highly variable, depending on the "phase of development" of the one to five projects they are managing. Much of the work involves "research, writing, and ideating," often requiring Sara to become a "subject matter expert" on various intellectual properties to develop compelling experiences.
Most Important Skills For a Senior Writer Creative Director at Starbucks
For a Senior Writer/Creative Director at Starbucks, strong writing skills are paramount—the ability to be "clear and concise," avoiding the pitfalls of AI-generated content. Effective communication and confident pitching are equally crucial, ensuring project vision remains intact throughout the process and ideas are persuasively presented to clients.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Senior Writer And Creative Director At Starbucks
Sara, a Senior Writer/Creative Director at Starbucks, enjoys the "creative job" offering a "full-time job with health benefits," a rarity in other creative industries. The longer timelines allow for high-quality work, and seeing projects like "experiential marketing" come to life and bring joy to others is particularly rewarding.
Biggest Challenges for a Senior Writer Creative Director at Starbucks
Sara's biggest challenge as a Senior Writer/Creative Director at Starbucks is "selling the idea to a client and being able to pitch them successfully," often navigating disagreements between creative vision and client needs, including situations where "they want a pink kitchen"—a project known to be ineffective but demanded by the client. This highlights the crucial balance between creative integrity and client fulfillment in her role.
Favorite Parts of Working in Theme Entertainment as a Senior Writer Creative Director
Sara, a Senior Writer/Creative Director at Starbucks, enjoys the "very nice, very friendly" people in the theme entertainment industry; many are "theme park buffs" who are passionate about the work, creating a positive and collaborative environment.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Creative Industry, According To A Creative Director At Starbucks
To thrive in the creative industry, individuals must be "always benchmarking," constantly seeking inspiration from new experiences and technologies like "projection mapping," while possessing a versatile skillset and understanding of various team roles to foster better collaboration. This proactive approach to exploration and a broad understanding of the creative process are key.
What a Senior Writer and Creative Director at Starbucks wishes they had known before entering the Creative industry
Sara, a Senior Writer/Creative Director at Starbucks, reflects that success in the creative industry hinges not merely on "having good ideas," a common misconception, but on the crucial skills of "making those ideas work and how to sell them to the client." This insight underscores the importance of practical execution and persuasive communication alongside creative talent in career advancement.
Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Themed Entertainment Coordinators
Sara, a Senior Writer/Creative Director at Starbucks, recommends internships as an entry-level option, noting that "coordinator position is also a really common entry level role" offering broad exposure to various project teams and departments, allowing a new professional to discover their preferred area of focus. This approach provides valuable experience and helps a new professional learn "how other positions work".
Significant Career Lesson From a Senior Writer Creative Director at Starbucks
Sara's career success at Starbucks hinges on three key lessons: maintaining a collaborative spirit ("be a friendly person that people wanna work with"), honesty in admitting limitations ("know when to say, 'I don't know'"), and proactive communication ("be overly communicative"). These principles fostered trust, efficiency, and positive working relationships.
College Experiences That Helped A Senior Writer And Creative Director At Starbucks Succeed
Sara's undergraduate success stemmed from active participation in clubs, emphasizing the importance of networking "with the people around you" rather than solely focusing on senior leaders. This approach, discovered through a Geffen class, proved invaluable in building a career, as these peer connections provided future opportunities for advancement.
Advizer Personal Links
https://www.linkedin.com/in/saraashleybeil/, Instagram: @saraashleyb, www.sarabeil.com