From corporate burnout to building her own creative agency, this week's guest, Madison Utendahl, walks us through her inspiring and multi-hyphenate career journey. We'll delve into her time at HBO, Refinery29, and her experience leading social media at the Museum of Ice Cream, and finally, how she founded her creative agency - Utendahl Creative, which has earned her recognition by Adweek's Creative 100 and Forbes' 30 Under 30.

Madison shares her candid story: navigating an identity crisis, finding creative fulfillment, planning a strategic job exit, setting business standards that prioritize work-life balance, and finding a supportive life partner. You will definitely walk away with so many tangible insights to create a life and career you love.

Show Notes

0:57 Welcome Madison Utendahl!

3:28 Recognizing and embracing your multi-hyphen life

5:12 Madison’s career trajectory

7:12 You are not above the early stages of your job

8:01 Life after HBO

8:49 Understanding the nuances of things you dislike

10:21 Holding space for people and their differing creative ideas

12:24 You’re sabotaging your privilege by accepting an unhealthy way of life

14:31 Stop taking on unnecessary burdens 

16:22 Importance of peer accountability in the workplace

18:27 Know your basic needs and accept the sacrifices

20:02 Money can’t buy you happiness

21:07 Realizing the corporate grind doesn’t work for you

22:29 Nothing you see on social is real

24:46 Advice for when you’re burnt out

28:01 When you have strong boundaries, you don’t let your job/people push you to burn out

30:43 You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, you can just emulate other successful companies/societies you look up to

31:56 Questioning systemic/archaic constructs

35:47 Having to be “twice as good”

39:00 Discussing the engagement party

41:40 Finding someone who supports your ambition

42:52 Finding the right one once you accept your ambition

43:48 Instrumental resources for personal and professional development

46:08 Rapid fire questions!

Keep up with Madison!

Utendahl Creative

@madison.utendahl on Instagram

Resources/Mentioned

The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker

The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Shop our Limited Edition Patches!

Too Collective Website

Too Collective Affirmation Texts

Follow Too Collective on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocollective/?hl=en

Follow Alexis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexisbarber/?hl=en

Follow Alexis on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alexisbarber_?lang=en

Subscribe to Alexis on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7-YnRrflV9g6nLMWUkwDtA

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit toocollective.substack.com/subscribe