We’re excited to share Andrea Danelak with you today on our Creative Community Spotlight series.

Andrea Danelak is known for her Writing and Social Media Management services. Not to mention how lovely, kind, and that bubbly joyful personality.

Get to know her a little more through her Creative Community Spotlight here on the blog.

Andrea is standing in front of a teal coloured couch. She is wearing a bright peach coloured turtleneck shirt, while smiling at the camera.

How did Andrea Danelak come to be?

Working in the corporate marketing and communications world for 15+ years, I always felt like a bit of a square peg in a round hole (read: I'm a little weird). During the pandemic, I went back to school part-time to study digital and social media marketing, since social media didn't exist when I initially went to university for journalism and communications (OK, I just dated myself). I quickly discovered how much I enjoyed working in the social media space and, after a lot of soul-searching and what-ifs, decided to take the plunge and quit my job to freelance full-time. Now, I've branded myself as a big ol' word nerd, offering writing and social media management services to help businesses tell their stories. The best part: Since launching my business, I've grown so much as a human and finally feel like my true self, purple hair and all.

What does Andrea Danelak focus on in their efforts to support the community?

I've always placed importance on giving back to the community. I was one of the founding members of my local community association, and now volunteer for at least one non-profit at any given time. It's important to me, personally, to be part of something larger than myself and contribute to the greater good in my small way.

Andrea is sitting in a grassy field. She is smiling up towards the camera. Her hair is 2 shades of pink and she is wearing a pink turtleneck sweater.

What was the hardest part in starting Andrea Danelak ?

I'm down with the creative side of things, but diving into administrative and business tasks (like figuring out taxes) has been a real eye-opener on how much I still have to learn about running a business!

What’s the biggest challenge that Andrea Danelak faces?

One of my biggest challenges: there is only one of me. On days when multiple clients need something done, I need to take a deep breath and prioritize each task (but it's also a bit of a rush, so there's that).

If you could tell yourself one thing on Day 1 of starting down the creative path that led you here what would it be?

It sounds cliché, but: "Don't be so hard on yourself." Based on my conversations with other creatives, imposter syndrome is widely felt in my industry, and it's so easy to fall into a dark place mentally. I would give myself grace and tell myself to continue to grow, learn and be the best person I can be.

In this photo Andrea is wearing a "cat mom" t-shirt and a baseball hat. She is laugh smiling while standing in front of a flower garden.

Do you have a workshop, product, link, or service you'd like to share with the Camp Rover Community?

Last year, I launched VIP Writing Days and am ob-SESSED! Basically, people book me for an entire day and I'll write whatever I can in that timeframe. It saves so much time and stress for small businesses that would rather be doing anything other than web copy or report writing. Find out more here.

Closing thoughts for the Camp Rover Community?

Since I launched my own business, "community over competition" has really rung true. I'm a huge introvert and it takes a lot for me to come out of my shell, but networking at events like Camp Rover has been a lifesaver. I'm constantly sharing resources, ideas and job opportunities with other creatives, some of whom offer the exact same services as me, and have never once felt like it was a rat race. There's room for everyone!