5 Questions with Dakota Chandler

Dakota Chandler’s career has taken her from the mailroom at Creative Artists Agency to Warner Bros. Pictures and Hulu, with stops in fintech and home furnishings along the way. Now, she’s bringing that experience to Grinnell College as the leader of the Arts, Media, and Communications Career Community in the Center for Careers, Life, and Service (CLS).

Chandler grew up in Kingston, a tiny town in northern Illinois — “smaller than Grinnell!” — before attending the University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in Communications with a behavioral emphasis. After college, she moved to Los Angeles without a job lined up and spent the next decade building a career in entertainment. 

She began in the mailroom at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), later working at Warner Bros. Pictures and eventually joining its Digital Marketing team. She went on to become a senior social media manager on Hulu’s Originals Marketing team, leading social campaigns for original shows. She has also led social media for a fintech company and a home furnishings brand.

Last summer, Chandler moved to Grinnell with her partner, Rob Seer ’12. They live in town with their two cats, Birdie and Simon. 

What inspired you to get into communications and media? 

Growing up in a rural town in Illinois, I had a deep appreciation for how TV and film allowed me to delve into cultures and life experiences that were different than my own. Later I realized I loved where storytelling, consumer psychology, and data meet, which led me to marketing. 

How did you come to work at Grinnell, and what does your role look like today? 

When my partner Rob began to consider moving back to Grinnell to take a job as an attorney, I started networking with people at the college to get a sense of the school’s culture and try to understand more about how the school functions holistically. From there, I identified a few areas that I thought could make sense for me to explore, and I kept an eye on the job board and kept my contacts warm. When the opportunity opened at the Center for Careers, Life, and Service for the Arts, Media, and Communications Career Community lead, I applied and reached out immediately to express my enthusiastic interest. I’m still so glad it worked out.

As the leader of the Arts, Media, and Communications Career Community, I get to talk to students all day to help them navigate their career goals. Sometimes that means reviewing a resume, sometimes talking about graduate school timelines and materials, sometimes I’m sharing about my experience, sometimes I'm introducing a student to someone in my personal network that I think could be helpful, etc. Sometimes I’m just listening and empathizing. It really just depends on the student and what they need.

Oh also — if you're a student reading this: you don't need a polished plan, or even a vague one, to come see me. Some of my favorite conversations start with "I have no idea what I'm doing." Come hang out! 

How has your experience working at entertainment companies influenced the work you do here at Grinnell? 

I feel fortunate to be able to draw on my 12 years of experience when advising students, especially because entertainment/media can feel like a daunting industry to break into. The landscape has been changing quite rapidly in recent years, so I try to keep up as much as possible to ensure that my guidance is relevant and actionable for students.

I vividly remember being a student at Penn trying to navigate the same questions that Grinnell students come to me with, so the “I’ve been there, here’s how I approached XYZ” feels natural. I also feel like I’m able to help students understand how their skills and expertise can be translated to be more favorable for jobs in this industry, as I’ve been on the other side of the table interviewing people at these companies and heard and seen firsthand how hiring decisions are made. 

Outside of work, what are some activities you enjoy? 

Catch me on a walk listening to a podcast about organizational psychology, leadership, tech, or something funny. I also love hosting, trying new recipes, or trying a craft class at the STEW. 

What is something unexpected that you have encountered here at Grinnell? 

I knew Grinnell had a strong reputation, but I didn't expect how quickly it would feel like home. I've found a grounding sense of community with such a lovely, bright, and diverse group of people.