Group Y Content : Building Culture

Building Culture
Through Storytelling & Creative Vision

On GROUP Y LIVE with Oli Russell-Cowan, Monica Medellin shares her journey from growing up in Los Angeles, where she developed a passion for surfing and filmmaking, to her career in the action sports industry.

She discusses her early experiences with video editing, her education in journalism, and how she transitioned into documentary filmmaking. Monica highlights the importance of representation in sports, particularly for women, and reflects on her time at the World Surf League, where she advocated for equal visibility of female surfers.

The conversation also touches on the challenges faced during the pandemic and the significance of building networks in the industry.

Monica shares her journey from being a passionate filmmaker to creating the successful documentary series Surf Girls Hawai’i, which highlights young female surfers in Hawaii. She discusses the challenges of transitioning from small-scale productions to larger teams, the pressures of being a young executive producer, and her experiences working with major companies like Red Bull and Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine.

Monica emphasizes the importance of storytelling, overcoming imposter syndrome, and her commitment to showcasing women's achievements in sports. She also shares her future projects, including stories related to the upcoming Olympics and her advice for aspiring filmmakers.

🖥️ WATCH GROUP Y LIVE ON YOUTUBE

🎧 LISTEN TO GROUP Y LIVE ON:
• Spotify
• Apple Podcast

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Follow What Fuels You: Monica’s journey shows the power of aligning your passion with your purpose—when you build from what you love, your work resonates deeper.

• Representation Creates Connection: Telling authentic, inclusive stories builds stronger communities and brand loyalty—people connect with what reflects them.

• Start Where You Are: Big opportunities often come from small beginnings. Own your story, embrace the DIY phase, and grow as you go.

• Create with Confidence: Trust your perspective, even when it feels different. Original voices break through the noise—especially when they’re backed by intention and clarity.

WATCH / LISTEN

Past GROUP Y LIVE Episodes

⭐ JONATHAN WEAVER - CMO, D_b_
⭐ DUSTIN HINZ - CMO, Firestone Walker Brewing
⭐ NIK STRONG-CVETICH- CEO, Save The Waves
⭐ FLORIAN KLAASS - Founder, K&Co
⭐ TREVOR GRAVES - President, Nemo Design
⭐ NICK TRAN - Fmr CMO, TikTok

Next Week’s Guest
⭐ BRIAN GAROFALOW - CEO, Skullcandy

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UPCOMING EVENTS

WHERE ART + DESIGN MEETS COMMERCE
Creativity Flow Speaker Series returns for Season 2

Join us for an inspiring evening on Wednesday, May 7th at the CreativityFlow speaker series in Laguna Beach, CA at the Rivian South Coast Theater.

SPEAKERS - MAY 7th
• Sophia Chang - Designer / Illustrator
• Jeff Hammoud - Chief Design Officer at Rivian

 

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