26 I’ve been thinking about what she said during our first conversation in February 2022. She summed up her philosophy for success by saying, “Go to work, hustle, and be kind.” Manning’s “say yes to everything” attitude, zest for life, and creative streak were a breath of fresh air. Burnout is prevalent in creative fields like fashion and marketing. It can be hard to produce innovative ideas regularly, so hearing her perspective on finding a proper work-life balance hooked me. After completing my writing project, I made it a point to maintain a social media relationship with Manning. As we followed each other’s lives aAs we followed each other’s lives and I watched her business boom via Instagram, I found myself continually drawn to her passion for work and overall love of life. She became a source of inspiration for me and a model of how to chase your wildest dreams with no regrets. I was inspired and set a goal to work with her however possible. So, again, I reached out and asked. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect much to come of it, but to my surprise, Manning’s resounding yes started our collaborative journey into managing Madeline Marie’s social media and marketing. Since July of 2023, I have been a part of the team, and every minute has been uplifting. In my time with her, I’ve learned so much about myself and developing a business on nothing but your own laurels. It’s easy to feel disconnected when working remotely, but the disconnect never came despite the vast mileage between her and me. We both put our heads down, did the work, and had fun doing it. Finally, the opportunity came to see her in action. I booked a flight and headed to New York City to join her on set to shoot her new collection. That rainy day in Brooklyn was one of the best days of my career to date. Shooting behind-the-scenes content on set with fantastic talent was so rewarding. I didn’t even mind steaming 40+ garments because it reminded me of another lesson Manning has taught me: Put energy into things that mean something to you. The culmination of our relationship, from creating styling portfolios, TikToks, and website design to on-the-ground experience, meant everything to me. Having a mentor who embodies chasing dreams with no regrets is priceless. I have the chance to support her growth while also developing my skills. The fact that this partnership blossomed organically out of mutual respect makes MAKING A MOVE Photo by Emily West. Photo by Emily West.
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