Milestone birthdays invite you to take inventory of who you’re, the place you’ve been and finest align your present actions to make your future imaginative and prescient a actuality. Whereas it is sensible that every new decade can carry a deepening of passions or a shift alongside a continuum, these within the enterprise of social media should additionally deal with evolving past the pursuits that first introduced them clicks. 

Entrepreneur Serena Kerrigan finds herself at this very crossroads. As she leaves the only life and her 20s behind—two of the weather that helped her acquire near 1 million followers throughout social platforms—Kerrigan’s savvy branding and perception in herself are serving to her step into what’s subsequent to perform even better success.

Whether or not you’re turning the web page to a brand new decade or embarking on a brand new endeavor, Kerrigan’s instance supplies a roadmap on embrace the longer term and maximize new potentialities. On the cusp of turning 30, she displays on her journey to date, and particulars why she hopes her followers be part of her for her second act. Serena Kerrigan additionally outlines construct and keep confidence all through all of your life decisions.

Serena Kerrigan is monetizing confidence

With each mother and father within the media trade, Kerrigan was bitten by the content-making bug early. After producing an award-winning quick movie in highschool, she studied visible media and English at Duke College. Following commencement, she interned after which went on to work at Refinery29, the place she created some 60 property a month for Fb Reside, Snapchat and YouTube. 

Whereas she appreciated the chance, Kerrigan ultimately realized the corporate wasn’t capitalizing on enterprise and expertise a lot as counting on cash from advertisers and traders.

“I needed to monetize confidence, however I wanted a product to assist me try this,” Kerrigan says. 

She left Refinery29 a month earlier than the pandemic started to construct her empire, and people first few weeks quarantining helped make clear what route her profession ought to take. She launched an Instagram Reside relationship present, spun off corresponding relationship card video games which have garnered greater than $1 million in gross sales and went on a nationwide stay tour.

Whereas her following could have initially ballooned due to her relationship scorching takes, Kerrigan explains that her model is basically about confidence, whether or not that’s with work, friendship or relationship.

“My Roman Empire helps girls stay fearlessly as themselves,” Kerrigan says. “I created a whole firm and merchandise which are about treating your self as a prize, and that kind of pondering extends to each facet of your life.”

What’s subsequent… and why the pivot?

As she turns 30 this month, Kerrigan has began to shift her pursuits utilizing the assets and expertise from the social media house she at the moment occupies.

Final fall, Kerrigan launched SFKTV, the place she streams her personal unique, longform content material. She sees the platform as serving to to offer a launchpad that may ultimately allow her to jot down her personal film.

“I wish to go away a legacy that transcends social media,” she says. “Social media movies have a shelf life, and I didn’t develop up desirous to be an influencer. I wish to be the following Sofia Coppola.”

Whereas she’s been training the artwork of storytelling for years, for her subsequent profession section, Kerrigan has a tv author as a mentor and her mother and father as a sounding board. One other inspiration? Beyoncé.

“She places within the work,” Kerrigan says. “She exhibits that it’s not nearly expertise or cash, however who sits down and does it. It’s not about following a format or having to attend this sure college. It’s what you’re accountable for—are you going to hustle the toughest?”

Empowering girls to regulate their very own timeline

Whereas a lot of her followers nonetheless grapple with relationship and relationship woes, as they age out of their 20s, staying on prime of their fertility is changing into extra prime of thoughts. Kerrigan, who’s severely relationship somebody, can be making ready for the longer term by freezing her eggs for the second time. Via Instagram tales and webinars together with her fertility clinic, she hopes to assist demystify the method.

“I wish to empower girls to have possession of their timeline,” she says.

Personally and professionally, Kerrigan feels able to delve into this subsequent territory.

“I imagine in case you go and take a calculated danger and an opportunity on your self, you’ll thrive. I’ve satisfied a variety of girls to do the identical.”

Serena Kerrigan’s prime three suggestions for construct your personal empire

1. Dream large and observe your ability set. “Ask your self what comes straightforward to you, and work from there. I didn’t like enhancing movies, so I made a decision to simply go stay on Instagram. Don’t create pointless hurdles for your self.”
2. You write the plot of your life. Imaginative and prescient board, and don’t be so self-critical. “In case you have been your fairy godmother—what would your life appear to be? Then create a life that appears like that. You’re the author, producer, director and star of your personal life.”
3. Speak to your self in a mirror. “We are saying issues to ourselves and are crucial in a method we wouldn’t be with others. Deal with your self such as you’re your personal finest good friend.”

Picture by Brendan Wixted.

Jill McDonnell is a Chicago-based content material author and communications skilled. She has a bachelor’s diploma in journal journalism from the College of Missouri-Columbia and a grasp’s diploma in public relations and promoting from DePaul College. She is at the moment at work on a psychological thriller novel.