Chantal Rochelle’s Path To Director Of Talent And Influencer Marketing At Warner Bros. Discovery

Over the course of her career, Chantal Rochelle’s knack for storytelling has shone a light on the beauty that occurs when passion meets purpose. The Houston native’s professional trajectory includes stints at major brands like Nike and BuzzFeed and, as of most recently, Warner Bros. Discovery. Rochelle has newly been appointed as the company’s Director of Talent and Influencer Marketing. Tasked with leading a team of influencer marketing managers who serve as the point of contact for all global influencer marketing-related activities, Rochelle oversees the creation and management of all influencer campaigns. Rochelle’s role also includes proactively pinpointing trends and angles for each campaign to be executed with talent and identifying influencers for various campaign beats, among other responsibilities.

Given her wealth of experience in the content creation and influencer space, it’s safe to say that this role fits Rochelle perfectly. The recently appointed director, who learned about the position from a mentor, would have to agree.

“A mentor of mine saw the role, sent it to me, and told me I would be perfect. I looked at the description and responsibilities, and it was as if they tailored the role specifically for me. The role includes everything from working with talent at carpet premieres and activations to sourcing incredibly dope influencers for campaigns and creating fun and impactful content. This role is something I’ve been manifesting and praying for for quite some time. It also helps that I have an amazing boss and team who inspire me every day.”

Aside from the responsibilities of her new role, the opportunity to work with such an iconic company sparked Rochelle’s interest. The University of Texas at Austin alumna feels incredibly proud to work with a brand that’s had such a pivotal impact on her life.

“Warner Brothers has been near and dear to my heart since I was a little girl. From being enamored with films like Space Jam, The Polar Express, and The Iron Giant as a child to falling in love with films in my adulthood like Queen Of The Damned, ATL, Slumdog Millionaire, and so much more. There is such a beloved history woven into the fabric of this company, and I knew this was where I could do my best work. It’s also incredibly inspiring to work alongside some of the most brilliant people in digital marketing.”

One film that’ll most likely be added to Rochelle’s list of favorites under the brand is the upcoming Barbie, scheduled to hit theaters this Summer. It’s actually one of her favorite campaigns that she’s worked on since joining the team.

“Right now, we’re working on several theatrical campaigns for the year, but my favorite by far is Barbie. It’s one of the year’s most anticipated films, and it’s so surreal to see how the world has been eagerly waiting for its release. We just launched the Barbie selfie generator that basically broke the internet, and it’s been so fun seeing how people worldwide have put their own spin on it. This is exactly the type of campaign that gets me excited to come to work every day. I also may or may not already have my outfit picked out for the premiere this summer.”

The content guru, who’s worked in the space for a decade, has collaborated with various celebrities like Regina King, Eddie Murphy, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Angela Bassett, to name a few. As a Black woman in leadership, Rochelle feels it’s crucial to highlight diverse voices continuously.

“Working with diverse talent and influencers helps to ensure that various voices and perspectives are represented. It allows a brand like Warner Bros. to better connect with and represent its audience. So when sourcing talent and identifying the right people to work with, I want to ensure we actively reflect the world around us. How is this helping to increase innovation and social impact? How are we tapping into new markets and reaching new audiences? Diversity incorporates many elements: sexual orientation, ethnicity, skin color, hair color, gender, body type, socioeconomic status, and so much more. It’s imperative to me to make sure that we have proper representation in the campaigns that we create.”

As Rochelle celebrates the latest chapter of her professional path and a decade of longevity in this realm, it’s worth noting the barriers she had to overcome to get there. One piece of advice that she wishes she had known earlier in her career is to show up as her authentic self, and everything else will follow.

“You must remember that you are worthy to be in the spaces you’re in. It’s easy to let imposter syndrome and self-doubt get in your way, but you have to remember that you have everything you need inside of you. You don’t have to put who you are on the back burner to make others feel comfortable. Instead, show up as your full self, and the opportunities and connections meant for you will come your way. I wish I had known this at the beginning of my career, but I was so busy people pleasing and trying to assimilate to make others comfortable. But I now know that the things meant for me will always come when they’re supposed to. All I have to do is show up and be the best version of myself.”