Meet Aspasia Tsampas | Editor in Chief, The Campus Magazine & Communications Intern, VMLY&R

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aspasia Tsampas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aspasia, what do you attribute your success to?
The number one thing I contribute to the success I’ve had so far in my life is without a doubt the work ethic my parents have instilled in me. My parents are both first-generation American’s with origins from Greece and the immigrant work ethic and style has been ingrained in me since the day I was born. Both my parents are first generation college students and everything we have was built from the ground up by them. Because of that, they have always encouraged my siblings and I to keep pushing forward, always say yes to new opportunities, and work hard to get what you want in life. While this work ethic is not always easy to balance, it has made me who I am today. In everything I do, I have learned to put 100% of my all into it, because everything you create is an extension of yourself and, as my parents have taught me, you should be proud of it. Nothing in life is handed to you, the way you work and present yourself is what will make you stand out in everything.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a recent college graduate, my career is only beginning. However, it are the things I have done in college that are setting me up for success in my career. When I went to college, I was enamored with being a journalist. Going to college in a big city, when I was from a small suburb, I had imagined this life of me chasing stories. Then, when I was there, I realized it wasn’t exactly where I wanted to be. I love journalism, and my time as the Editor in Chief of The Campus Magazine, the oldest news publication in my university system, taught me a lot about leadership, time management, and the media communications industry. It was from there that I entered the world of advertising, which led me to my current role at VMLY&R, a creative advertising agency. Despite formal internship experience in the advertising agency, I find myself talking about my experiences as the Editor in Chief of The Campus in interviews a lot. This is because for a very long time that magazine was my brainchild and similar to my role in advertising, I was the point person for all aspects of it’s creation (editorial, creative, business, social media, etc.). I gained more hard skills in that position that have prepared me for my career than all my internships leading up to VMLY&R. Therefore, my advice for anyone who is starting out and working to figure it all out is that every experience you gain and have is going to help you excel and stand out. Say yes to things that aren’t necessarily aligned with your cookie cutter industry career path. Sometimes growing doesn’t always mean moving vertically, it can be mean moving horizontally and learning more about what you’re really passionate about. For me, journalism was my introduction to advertising, but at the heart of it, my passion is and has always been storytelling. And that is something I will take with me as I grow my career.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I was born and raised in New York, just thirty minutes out of Manhatten. My entire young adult years were spent exploring the city I called home and ultimately moved there for college. If my friends were visiting the city for the first time, I would give them a more authentic New York experience than you would see in the movies. I think most importantly that means exploring a New York outside of Manhattan as well. By far the best food in New York, in my very biased opinion, is in Queens. The most diverse series of neighborhoods on the planet, you can find every language on earth spoken here, as well as every delicious cuisine. Whether that means my own culture’s food, Greek, in Astoria, or even the best Lebanese desserts also in Astoria, there is a diversity and unity within these neighborhoods that is beautiful and palpable. Then, I would take you to my favorite New York museums. The Brooklyn Museum is located in a fantastic part of the borough with so much greenery around it, not something you would automatically associate with the urban New York. The debate on where the best nightlife is in New York is highly debatable and truly depends on personal preferences, but my personal favorite neighborhood for nightlife is the East Village. Skip the big name clubs and choose the smaller bars, some of which you can find dance floors, speakeasies, and more!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Similar to what I factor into my success, I have to give a shoutout to my family. Being from a tight-nit Greek American family, I would not have the confidence, love, and support if not for them. To my older siblings, Maria and Louie, I thank you for being the best role models and pioneers in life. You have paved the way for me and opened up doors and opportunities that would not have been possible otherwise. To my parents, Zannis and Olga, thank you for working endlessly and tirelessly to ensure I have the freedom to pursue my passions every day.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celiatsampas/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aspasia-celia-tsampas-505507156/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/actsampas