Meet Brooke Stupar | Creative Director + Social Strategist

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

Hi Brooke, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
The process of creativity is at the core of my inner desires—an expression so intimate as it connects deeply with who I am. Pursuing a creative career has always felt natural to me as it allows me to express my truest self.

I have always struggled in environments that don’t feel authentic to who I am, and in dreaming of a career I knew I wanted to spend my time and efforts on curating spaces + situations that allow me to show up in ways that feel most like me. Currently, I work on a freelance basis in creative direction and social strategy. The nature of my work is constantly changing, allowing me the freedom to explore new avenues of creativity. Growing up, I never had a singular interest or a specific career in mind; instead, I just pictured myself as my own boss. This independence and flexibility are what I love most—it enables me to learn and create in new ways while finding a way to bring it all together in a way that supports myself.

After reading Bill Burnett’s book, “Designing Your Work Life,” I began reframing my past jobs based on the three categories he outlines: money, impact, and expression. Every job involves a mix of these elements, and our career choices depend on the balance that feels right for us. For me, prioritizing work that feels purposeful, aligns with my principles, and allows me to express myself has always been a priority over monetary gain. Embracing this perspective, I made the decision to take the leap into freelancing and fully align my life with these values. A decision that has invited many new fears and a very real case of imposter syndrome, but also a newfound confidence and a lot of growth. It has taken many shapes already, and I know will continue to evolve––for this form is not final, but it is me and I will create for that is who I am.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I can say that I am self-taught in the way that I do not have a bachelor’s degree or formal education in my field, but I am at the place I am today from my past experiences and those that have taken the time to teach me and share their knowledge with me. I am a firm believer in the power of connections and experience, and I am eternally grateful for my past opportunities to lead to where I am now. With the majority of my past professional experience being in visual merchandising, I have taken the skills I’ve learned to styling spaces + shelves to styling a cohesive Instagram grid, or styling words on a page – making sure everything fits together in a clear, concise, and aesthetic way. I love working with like-minded individuals + brands who trust what I will create and together we can make something beautiful.

One large lesson I have learned is the power of “faking it til you make it” and not in the sense of trying to accomplish something you have no business doing, but more in the sense of struggling with self-doubt and insecurity and comparison, but learning how to continually put yourself out there. Every single project I have taken on has catapulted me into another project, because of the experience I have gained each time and the desire to put in effort to learn how to create new things. Most days I have never felt as unqualified, but at the same time so confident and proud of my abilities. I think it is all just a journey of keeping an approach of humility that I don’t have all the answers, but I’m willing to figure it out and hopefully learn a things or two along the way.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in San Luis Obispo, California – the “happiest city in America” according to Oprah!

It truly is heaven on Earth with the beach and the mountains and sunny warm temperatures year long.

The place you will find me most is Field Day Coffee – opened by my dear friends a few years back it is my favorite place to start the day with an oat milk matcha – get some work done and some social time!

Other honorable mentions for a weekend visit:
– Breakfast burritos from Lincoln Market Deli
– Pick up croissants from Wayward Bakery in Los Osos
– Then take a walk on the bluff trail in Montana de Oro
– Grab a Tassajara Delight sandwich and swirl soft serve cone at High Street Deli
– Affogatos from Scout Coffee on Garden St.
– Shell beach for reading on the beach or catching a sunset
– A martini from Nightcap during $10 martini hour
– Catch up with friends over cocktails at Sidecar
– A slice of pizza from Giuseppes on the walk home

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
A lot of my story comes from the people around me who foster my creativity, inspire me, and who have taught me more than I could learn on my own. Every job + experience I have had has been an absolute gift and I am forever grateful for the people and connections that have continued to join me on this journey.

My past boss Megan Heddinger, (@meganheddinger) founder + creative director of Wilde House Paper (@wildehousepaper), provided so much inspiration as a female entrepreneur and taught me about the fluidity of creativity and mentored me in more ways than one.

My dear friend and fellow creative Hannah Hamilton (@hannnahhamiltonn), a bi-coastal graphic designer based in NY + CA, has fostered so many conversations and been a sounding board on ideas, looked over projects and provided feedback, and has been a constant effortless source of inspiration to me.

Another dear friend and designer, Mia Krabbendam (@miaaa_k), inspires me constantly in the way that her designs connect people – to oneself and to others.

Website: https://brookestupar.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brookestupar/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-stupar-705a03252/

Image Credits
The profile image photo I uploaded can be credited to: @jaketovar.co, the others are my personal images.