Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Gavilla
Hi Sarah, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I never imagined I’d end up working in social media marketing. In my “first life,” I was a professional ballet dancer, performing on stage for thousands of people every weekend. In fact, my first job at 14 was as “Clara” in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes. Yeah, my freshman year of high school was unique, to say the least.
While dancing in front of large crowds never intimidated me, the thought of speaking to an audience absolutely terrified me. Flash forward to today, and that version of Sarah would’ve never believed I now speak to thousands of people daily on social media.
That’s the beauty of growing up—you can’t always predict the person you’ll become, even when you think your path is set. While I’ve hung up my pointe shoes, I’ve replaced them with a camera and mic. Now, as a content creator and social media strategist, I wake up every day grateful to get paid to do what I love.
I owe much of my success to the lessons I learned through ballet. It taught me discipline, work ethic, and, most importantly for my current career, how to perform. Ballet shaped who I am today, and while transitioning out of that chapter was incredibly challenging, it gave me the foundation to pursue what I do now. For that, I’ll always be thankful.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My journey hasn’t always been smooth. Leaving my ballet career was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made—it was all I knew for nearly 15 years. At 20, the pandemic lockdown was the first time in a long while that I experienced life without ballet. I tried all sorts of hobbies and odd jobs during that time, and slowly, I realized that success was possible in other fields. Like so many others during that period, I decided to make a huge change and say goodbye to the career and identity that had defined me for so long.
Transitioning into my current career wasn’t easy either. I started with low-paying gigs just to get my name out there as a social media manager. I made plenty of mistakes—charging too little, not setting boundaries, and taking on way more than I could handle. But every challenge taught me something valuable and helped me grow into who I am today. I don’t take any of those struggles for granted because they’ve led me to where I am now.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
To be honest, I do a little bit of everything when it comes to social media. I started in social media management, creating and editing posts for various businesses. I quickly fell in love with coaching and had the privilege of mentoring students from industry leaders like Brock Johnson and Colleen Nichols. From there, I launched my agency, Renue Social, offering services like social media strategy, editing, UGC, platform management, and more. That chapter taught me so much about leadership, entrepreneurship, and managing both time and finances.
Through these ventures, I discovered that my true passion has always been content creation—I just didn’t know how to make it my full-time career. I love bringing a brand’s vision to life through video, and as a UGC creator, I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with brands like GAP, BetterHelp, Simon Malls, and others.
Recently, I took on the role of YouTube Manager at Manychat, a company I’ve been a fan of and active user of for years. After freelancing for so long, stepping into a corporate role had to be the perfect fit—and it is. I feel incredibly lucky to work with such a talented team here in Austin, filming videos weekly and collaborating with an amazing group of writers. It’s truly my dream job. Our first video goes live next week, and I couldn’t be more excited!
Since starting my journey as a content creator, I’m most proud of how much I’ve grown. I began with lip-sync videos, too nervous to speak directly to the camera. Now, I thrive on direct-to-camera content because it allows me to share my personality, connect authentically with my audience, and create posts that feel uniquely my own.
What matters most to you?
At this stage in my life, what matters most to me isn’t work-related at all. Last year, I got engaged to my fiancé, David, and we’re currently planning our wedding. This season has made me truly value work-life balance and embrace the idea of working to live, not the other way around.
For so long, I was in hustle mode, building my business with 12-hour workdays and even dreaming of stressful client scenarios at night. But now, I cherish the simple things—eating dinner with my fiancé, enjoying peaceful walks with our dog, and falling asleep to a good movie.
Sometimes, I regret spending so many years glued to my computer screen. I know that grind helped me get to where I am today, but I’m endlessly grateful to have found a healthier balance. Prioritizing what matters most has brought so much more joy and fulfillment to my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.renuesocial.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahgav.social/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sarahgav
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahgavilla
Image Credits
Bry Penney
Hannah Adrianna Photography
Alexander Iziliaev
