Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel West.
Hi Rachel, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story is a bit unconventional, which is fitting, because I’ve never been particularly good at staying in just one lane.
I was born and raised in Chicago, where I spent my childhood writing short stories about talking cats, watching musicals with my mom, and signing up for every choir and theatre activity I could find. Storytelling has always been my passion (but don’t tell my grandma who keeps asking me to write a book!).
While earning my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education, I continued performing with a focus on Classical Vocal Performance and competitive
Speech and Debate. That experience opened incredible doors for me. I had the opportunity to deliver two TEDx talks, become a National Champion, and later coach a World Championship team at Western Kentucky University.
My plan was to stay in higher education. I had accepted my dream role as an Assistant Professor at WKU, but due to budget cuts, the position disappeared before I could even begin. Suddenly, I had to rethink everything.
That pivot led me to South Florida, where I spent five years teaching high school students. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I loved helping students who were terrified of public speaking transform into confident communicators, with many advancing to state and national-level achievements.
But over time, the profession changed dramatically. Between the challenges of teaching online through a pandemic and navigating an increasingly hostile environment following the murder of George Floyd, the work became both emotionally exhausting and, at times, unsafe. I realized I needed a new path.
That path turned out to be marketing.
I joined a Miami tech startup as a junior copywriter and threw myself into learning the craft. Through a combination of curiosity, determination, and probably an unhealthy amount of hustle, I worked my way to Senior Copywriter in just two years. Today, I live in Austin and serve as a Creative Lead at VML MAP, where I develop campaigns for global brands like Ford, IKEA, Taco Bell, and Colgate. I even earned my first advertising award for an IKEA commercial I wrote, a milestone that felt so unbelievably meaningful after such an unexpected career shift.
But the biggest turning point came in June 2025.
I had the opportunity to represent my agency as one of the world’s “30 Under 30” marketers at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France. During the program, we were each given an hour of career coaching. It was there that I was introduced to the Japanese concept of IKIGAI, the idea of finding the intersection between what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what sustains you.
That conversation forced me to confront something I had been avoiding… in my pursuit of professional success, I had quietly abandoned the art forms that once brought my soul joy.
When I returned home, I decided to change that.
I logged onto CTX Live Theatre, signed up for every audition I could find, and started over as an artist. I still remember leaving my first audition after returning to theatre. My entire body was shaking from excitement. It felt like reconnecting with a part of myself I had lost.
Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working with companies including Walking Shadow Shakespeare, Austin Shakespeare, The VORTEX, Filigree Theatre, Bottle Alley, and Zilker Theatre Productions. The Austin theatre community welcomed me with open arms, and it has become one of the most meaningful parts of my life.
Today, I see myself as a multi-passionate creative. I’m a marketer, performer, storyteller, educator, and lifelong learner. For a long time, I thought success meant choosing one identity and committing to it completely. Austin has taught me otherwise.
Now, I believe the most fulfilling life is one where you’re allowed to be all of the things you love.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not. Looking back, I think every major chapter of my life has been accompanied by some level of uncertainty, loss, or reinvention.
Early on, I had to navigate the disappointment of losing my dream academic position before I even had the chance to start. Later, I found myself leaving a career in education that I genuinely loved because the environment had become unsustainable. Telling the story of “finding myself” sounds exciting when I tell it now, but living through it was scary, lonely, and full of self-doubt. I’ve also faced significant physical health challenges and struggles with mental health, both of which became more severe during periods of major transition.
The challenge I face most today is balance. I care deeply about my work, my family, my health, and my creative life, and there never seems to be enough time or energy to give each one the attention it deserves. I’m still learning how to pursue ambition without sacrificing wellbeing and how to chase opportunities without abandoning the things that make me feel whole.
I don’t always get it right. In fact, I fail at it fairly regularly. But every pothole in the road has taught me something valuable. They’ve made me more resilient, more compassionate, and more willing to bet on myself when the path forward isn’t obvious.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
On paper, I have two separate creative careers, so I have to give love to both.
As a performer, I’m a trained singer and actor currently working on improving my dancing feet with an upcoming production of *Singin’ in the Rain* with Zilker Productions. Thus far, I’ve become known for Shakespearean tragedies, new and developing works, and my ability to portray multiple characters within a single show. The role I’m most proud of is Cleopatra in *Caesar + Antony + Cleopatra* with Walking Shadow Shakespeare. Those were some big shoes…sandals…to fill. But the trust and support I received from my cast mates and director transformed my confidence as an artist and kicked off my love for the Austin theatre community. What sets me apart as a performer is my academic foundation. Years of classical vocal training and competitive speech and debate taught me how to use my voice safely and effectively, interpret text deeply, accept and apply feedback, connect with an audience, and navigate rejection with resilience. Those skills have been invaluable as I’ve returned to performing.
During my 9-5pm, I specialize in customer loyalty and retention marketing. In non-corporate speak, I help brands build stronger relationships with the customers they already have. I’m known for taking a customer-first approach to marketing. I believe advertising should respect people’s time and attention. The best campaigns are useful, entertaining, culturally relevant, and authentic. The awards and achievements I’ve received are secondary to people looking at my ads and feeling moved, informed, or seen.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
As a plus size Black woman, I’m often the only person that looks like me both on stage and in office. I use all of my remaining free time to advocate for the perception of Black women and plus sized bodies to move beyond acceptance and into inclusion and celebration – specifically in corporate, fashion, beauty, and mental health spaces. And when there is no seat at their table, I will build my own.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rachelswest.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diaryofaluckygirl?igsh=OGo3ejJ2anB6eGkx&utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelswest
Image Credits
Minerva Villa of Lens of Athena Photography and Matthew Harrington
