Award-winning director and producer Ava DuVernay, known for her groundbreaking films like “Selma,” “A Wrinkle In Time,” and “Origin,” didn’t actually start her career behind the camera. She spent years working in public relations before taking the plunge and pivoting in her 30s. Spoiler: it paid off. And she’s got an Academy Award to show for it. To kick off our new season of "9 to 5ish," we spoke to Ava about how she made that change and found joy in her career, and why she’s always embraced change.
PS: Ava’s film, “Origin”, will be streaming on demand starting March 12.
In this episode, Ava shares:
Why she’s intentional about finding joy in her work
What “ear hustling” is – and why it’s helped her level up in her career
How she’s learned to embrace change in her industry
The secret to a good working partnership (plus, what she’s learned from Oprah)
On "Ear Hustling"
Ava: I think some of the best lessons that I've embraced are things that I've ear hustled, right? Just stay quiet and listen sometimes. Stop talking. And you can hear, you know,, all kinds of things if you are not the one always talking. And so, that is a way that I've learned a lot, and I try lean into quite a bit… Listen. That's the main thing. Ask a question and then really listen. I think so often people ask questions, and then are just waiting to hear themselves speak again. You can learn so much when you really just listen to what people are saying.
On Embracing Change
Ava: Those shifts are opportunities. They're cracks in the foundation, and the crack is where you apply pressure and to break it open. And so, I like the idea of disrupting institutions, systems, structures that we're told this is the way it is. This is who's allowed to be here. This is the way this goes. This is how you do this. In my industry right now, nobody knows what the heck is going on. Nobody knows what tomorrow's gonna be or the next day's gonna be. And you know what? Great. Because I got some ideas.
On Pivoting Your Career
Ava: How can you take the first step tomorrow? You don't have to take that tenth step that involves, “I've gotta do applications for school, or I've gotta move to this city.” No. What can you do where you are? And start to do a little bit every day.
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