Meet Samantha Olson | COO, Shifter Media LLC & Deputy Editor, Shifter Mag

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

Hi Samantha, what role has risk played in your life or career?
The thought of taking risks can be intimidating, but I feel like it’s more worth it to take a risk than be safe. As a kid, I didn’t take many risks and instead fell victim to following whatever rules were set in place. As COO of Shifter Media, LLC, Deputy Editor of Shifter Mag and a journalist navigating her career, I feel that taking risks has paid off on multiple fronts.

The idea of Shifter Mag’s initiative to highlight performance artists — a series called “Shifter Fest,” which consists of video performances on our IGTV and exclusive Q&As on our website — came to me as I was watching a virtual drag show three months into quarantine.

When we dropped our first issue in June 2020, I decided to contact a ton of talented performers I had in my network. Thankfully, they loved the idea and were so excited to collaborate. Thus, we kicked off the project and Shifter Fest Vol. I was born. Shifter Fest Vol. III is currently in the works; we’re featuring a ton of new talent from TikTok and having our editorial interns and reporters conduct interviews. It’s funny to think that taking a risk like that led to one of the staples of our brand, which makes us stand out.

That’s only one aspect of risktaking, but there have been a ton of other times where I took risks, be it for pitching different stories and angles or suggesting innovative ideas for branded projects and larger brands. Risks (and a little bit of moxie) definitely got me to where I am today.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My career is only just beginning, but I feel like it’s been at least five to 10 years in the works. What started out as a daydream became reality way sooner than I anticipated. The media industry is not an easy one to be part of, but I can’t emphasize enough how all the hard work, dedication and risk-taking is extremely worth it.

I started out when I fell in love with storytelling. Whether I was recounting something funny that happened at school or my mom talking about how she came to Miami from Cuba when she was little, I always loved telling and listening to stories. By the time I got to middle school, I fell in love with creative writing and explored it. Eventually, I became an editor for my high school yearbook, wrote for different platforms over the years and even served as Deputy Editor, Managing Editor and Editor-in-Chief for four different publications in college. My professional journey was pretty linear, but that doesn’t mean that everyone’s is.

I had always known that I wanted something bigger for myself, but at the end of it all, it’s not about me at all. My name’s on a byline and I have the honor of telling the stories of people who aren’t typically given platforms. I’ve interviewed macrame artists, archaeologists, drag queens, cosplayers and even influencers with millions of followers. You wouldn’t think they’d have anything in common, but there’s passion at the root of each of their stories. And that’s what I love the most about this industry — I get to pass the mic to these incredible people who, too, have dreams that will come true if they haven’t already.

I’m currently an editorial fellow over at Hearst Magazines, which is a massive honor within itself. It’s been so much fun and has opened up a ton of opportunities for me as a journalist. I’m also COO of Shifter Media, LLC, which oversees Shifter Mag, an all-inclusive visual and literary magazine catered to the underdogs, the hipsters, the trendsetters, the queer folks. Shifter is an intersection between fashion, race and gender, drawing in inspiration and focus from other human factors. Although Shifter Media isn’t even a year old yet, our team and platform have grown tremendously, and we aren’t slowing down any time soon. The community that Shifter has built is so incredible and I cannot wait to see it expand even more. We’ve also gotten several opportunities to cover stories for Viacom, Universal Music Group/1824, BLK and Hatchett Book Group and we could not be more grateful!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My best friend has actually never been to Miami, so I love this question. I’m a city girl at heart, but I’m a Cuban-American who grew up in good ‘ol Hialeah — so you already know we’re taking a trip to El Palacio de los Jugos for the best of the best Cuban cuisine. Also, it’s a newer addition to Hialeah, but Happy Vegan Bakers Café is delicious for croquetas, empanadas and pastelitos. Eating House in Coral Gables is also some of the best food I’ve ever had in my life. I’ve also been hitting up The Taco Stand almost every time I’m in town.

I grew up going to Miami Beach with my mom, so that’s also a must. If we’re looking to explore some art and nightlife, I love Wynwood and the Miami Design District. Some of my favorite spots are Baoli, Astra, 1-800-Lucky and Gramp’s.

For live shows (if those ever happen again in a post-COVID world), I love the intimacy and grunginess of Culture Room in Ft. Lauderdale; Bayfront Park’s amphitheater is just stunning in warm weather! I’ve also heard incredible things about R House’s drag brunch in Wynwood, and some of my favorite queens perform there, so I’d definitely check that out.

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?
Rick Brunson, my journalism professor at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, has taught me so much over the years and has been an incredible mentor. He says I have the “it” factor, but his dedication to upholding the principles of journalism and guiding his students to a successful future is incredibly admirable. We had worked together for nearly two years in multiple environments and he knows what it means to be an excellent journalist because he is one. As a former student of his who works for a major magazine corporation and owns her own media company, I can honestly say I wouldn’t be as confident in my skills if it wasn’t for his teaching. I’ll take everything I learned in the journalism program at UCF with me wherever I end up.

Victor Martinez-Rivera, my best friend, roommate and CEO of Shifter Media LLC/Editor-in-Chief of Shifter Mag. I’m so honored that they turned to me and wanted to pursue a lifelong dream of theirs with me by their side. I can’t imagine my life without them and the Shifter team. Shifter has opened up doors for not just me and Victor, but for anyone who’s ever crossed paths with us — Shifter Fest performers, editorial and social media interns and our excellent team of creatives who have helped Shifter grow in tremendous ways. It’s so much fun to live life by Victor’s side and experience entrepreneurship together — in our twenties, at that.

Website: https://samnolson.wixsite.com/portfolio

Instagram: https://instagram.com/astoldbysno

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-n-olson/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/newsbysno

Other: Can you please plug Shifter’s socials as well? I’d greatly appreciate it! Website: https://www.shiftermag.com/

Image Credits
Shifter Cover Image – Kyle Anderson Photo of Sam and Victor in front of the Jeff Koons piece at The Broad art museum in Los Angeles – Courtesy of Samantha Olson Every other photo – Victor Martinez-Rivera Shifter Instagram feed – Shifter Mag/Instagram