Security Check:
I am a dreamer and doer. I deliver results through hard work and passion. I want to inspire the world by creating content that means something; spreading art that feeds your mind, body and soul. Also known as a product manager at SB Projects in LA. Find me on Instagram or on Tumblr.

What’s your historical Los Angeles and New York connection?
I was raised as a New Yorker/East Coaster through and through. Every summer was spent interning in music and theater in NYC and I made the obvious move to NYC after college to start my career in music marketing at Columbia Records.

Two years ago, I gave up my hair straightener, J.Crew wardrobe and workaholic mentality (NYC Claire) and traded it in for long curly hair, Free People dresses and my closeted free spirit.  (LA Claire).

I NEVER thought I would live in LA – East Coasters are trained to hate the West Coast (whether we’ve ever been there or not) – but traveled here often for work. One day I took lunch with a contact to network and ended up taking a leap of faith and moving west two weeks later.

Describe your experience in NYC and in LA.
In NYC I learned how to hustle and work hard. I developed thick skin. In LA, I’ve learned how to live, who I am and who I want to be.

My experiences in each city compliment each other. I would not be who I am without each city.

What was the biggest challenge of moving from LA to NYC?
Finding community in LA was difficult at first. Having grown up on the east coast and attended an East Coast college, I did not have to try to meet people in NYC. When I first moved to LA, I lived in West Hollywood and really struggled with meeting people not in the “industry” and in the “club” scene. However, I forced myself to “get out there” and attend as many music/art/tech/non-profit events as possible. Slowly but surely, I started to meet like-minded individuals who inspire me and feed my soul. Many of them live in Venice so I made the jump earlier this year and moved further west. Each weekend, I meet more and more lovely people in the V. Although I anticipate being bi-or tri-coastal (NYC/LA/London) in my life, I am confident that Venice will always be a home to me.

How can NYC and LA best engage with each other?
Creatively, each city speaks to each other. There’s a grit to art in NYC, yet a freeness to art in LA. When mixed, you see a 360 view of life.

Favorite LA secret spot
Eagle Rock. It’s my “thin place.” If you don’t know what a “thin place” is, read this NY Times Article.

Favorite NYC secret spot
The Brooklyn Bridge. It takes my breath away every time I see it.

If you were not at Scooter Braun Projects, what would you be doing?
Traveling. Probably writing and volunteering with children. This will be one chapter of my life in the future.

What’s on your playlist right now?
I cannot stay awake on airplanes. I usually fall asleep within the first few minutes of the flight and stay asleep until landing. My dreams in air are always extremely interesting; I guess you could call dreams my in flight entertainment.

From the 2462 Miles newsletter: connecting NEW YORK CITY + LOS ANGELES