Name: Leyla T. Rosario

Age you feel: 28

Where you grew up: The Bronx, NY

Cultural background: Boricua

2020 mantra: Make it your business to build your business

How did growing up in The Bronx shape the woman that you are?

I’m an only child who grew up poor and in the hood. The streets taught me how to be strategic and schooling provided the access to resources and building friendships, work relationships and mentorships that propelled my innate tenacity and WILL in wanting to define what my legacy will be. My parents were extremely resourceful and with very little money were able to provide me with experiences and memories that are truly unforgettable. Music and art have influenced my life ever since I was a child. My dad was a percussionist in his younger years and my mother is a natural born visual artist - she can do everything from jewelry making, creative writing, and photography. They both worked full time. I grew up encouraged to explore and understand art, film, and music. Now on the flip side...I can’t deny the social/economic hardships, domestic violence and family trauma. All of my painful life lessons (including my divorce) also shaped me to become the woman I am today. Yeah, I could’ve gone in a different direction with the tremendous amount of loss, health scares, and straight up fuckery that life can throw at you, but I rose up like a tree and grew. I am so thankful for my loved ones who were there to show me unconditional support and helped me keep my faith.

What's your favorite memory as a kid?

My mother’s hugs and my dad’s cooking.

Top 3 songs to describe your teen years:

● Anything by Missy Elliot

● Anything by Fania All Stars

● Anything by the Fugees

Tell us about the women in your family (anything one of them specifically taught you?):

All of the women (on both sides of my family) are incredibly strong, intelligent, and resilient. One in particular I learned a lot from is my mother’s sister. My aunt is a Buddhist and a member of the Soka Gakkai International-USA (SGI-USA). It is the most diverse Buddhist community in the United States. At the age of 8 she taught me how to meditate, how to be mindful, the basics of Buddhism and how to chant “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.” I’m thankful for these experiences as they have influenced a great part of my outlook on life. She also taught me how to belly dance with a sword on my head. I danced with her in a few professional acts in Las Vegas when I was a kid....but that’s for another conversation. Ha!

Can you share a little bit about your career?

I am the Executive Producer for Instagram at a global ad agency in NYC named Ogilvy. In addition I’m a Director, Cinematographer, and Co-Owner of The Gig Media, LLC with my business partner Jessica L. Ransom. She and I have a show called The Gig (started in 2019). It is a series about film and tv from behind the scenes and on the screen. We talk about production, interview industry professionals, give movie reviews, and perform live comedy renditions of The Gig at venues like The Bitter End in NYC. You can learn more about it and support our growing content @thegigseries. (Shameless plug!)

When did you know this was the thing you wanted to pursue, did intuition tell you or did the universe push you right into it?

I knew at an early age I wanted to work in Film and Television. My mom (bless her for being #1) caught on real quick and gave me her old camera. It was a Minolta SRT-101 (metal body camera from Japan)....from her younger years. I would photograph everything. I’ve been working since I was a teen and would use my money to get my 35mm film developed. I photographed all of my family and friends. From there my mom realized that I wanted to be a filmmaker. One day she saw in the newspaper (yes a physical one) that the Urbanworld Film Festival needed volunteers so she took me downtown and signed me up. I had an interview with Stacy Spikes and his team. They brought me on as an intern. At 15 I was reading scripts submitted into the film festival and exposed to the film market at an early age - parties, films, contacts...JLO and Halle Berry! Later in high school I met a teacher that changed my life. Jackie Fuchs...I don’t know where you are but, thank you. She encouraged me to apply for NYU Tisch School of the Arts for Film and TV. Fast forward I graduated in 2004....and after that...the rest is history!

We all deal with micro-aggressions, or with someone who forgets our credentials... tell us about a time this happened and how you handled it

Oh, this happens quite often in my career and I address it in real time. Straight up. I don’t play that. I will have a conversation about it. I am very transparent and will express my experience, opinion, and feelings if someone is crossing the line. Often times it is resolved and the situation is addressed...and the few times I needed to report a matter to HR, I used my rights as an employee to escalate it for a professional resolution. I’ve had some pretty wild stereotypes/racist comments said to me in my earlier career days. Yeah, it’s 2020 and the industry is small...I keep receipts.

For women starting their career, what's one thing you wish someone had told you when you were starting out on yours

I have more than one thing to share...so here we go!

● Your content creation is an art form but it is also a profitable business. I recommend understanding film financing, distribution, tax incentives, credit scores, investments, and business development. It’s one thing to be an artist, it’s another thing to get paid for creating art. Oh, and also stay on top of technology, it changes at rapid speed. Having a general understanding puts you at an advantage.

● NETWORK. NETWORK. NETWORK. Work on everyone’s project. Build those experiences and own your craft.

● Be a lifetime student. Keep learning!

● Have a tribe of friends where you are accountable for each others goals. Check in with each other and make sure you’re staying on top of the things that you want done.

The latest thing you learned (big or small):

Enjoying my privacy and keeping some things for myself. Those quiet/unshared intimate moments with family and friends are so valuable to me. I am taking time to live and celebrate in the moment.

What's one project you are trying to manifest in 2020?

Jessica L. Ransom (biz partner) and I have a feature length script we want to shoot later this year. Let’s manifest this!!! Putting the energy out there: We want to find the right platform/network to partner with on our project. Ayeeeeee!

Fast round:

Fav follow on Twitter: AOC!

Fav follow on Insta: Nowness

Fav beauty product: African Shea Butter, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer, Water

Last show binged/watched: “Gentified” and “Queen Sono” on Netflix

Last book read: Farming While Black by Chelsea Green

Early riser or night owl: Reformed Night Owl turned into a Full-time Early Riser!

Stay in or go out: I’m an Introvert/Extrovert...I switch it up and do BOTH!

Coffee or tea: Coffee

90s or 2000s R&B: Hands down 90’s R&B

The one thing you want for women of color: I want women of color to have access in learning how to become financially literate and financially independent.

Thank you Leyla! We’re excited to see what else you do this year!

Loving Leyla Rosario as much as us: Follow her on instagram !

LEYLA T. ROSARIO