From Hollywood studios to London Fashion Week, Chrystina Woody Train guides global fashion and beauty brands on expanding their digital media footprint and engaging with their target audiences.
Based in Los Angeles, Chrystina is an executive level marketing and communications consultant. With more than 12 years of experience under her belt, she’s led global marketing and digital campaigns for Samsung, Xbox, Microsoft, McDonald’s and General Motors.
Over the course of her career Chrystina has worked on consumer, corporate, crisis, influencer and entertainment campaigns for award-winning agencies such as Edelman, Weber Shandwick and Porter Novelli.
Most recently, in her role as vice president of communications at StyleHaul, Chrystina successfully led business development and strategic partner relations, executing branded content deals with the likes of L’Oréal, Nasty Gal and Maybelline.
You can find Chrystina on Instagram at @TheWoodyTrain and on Twitter at @ChrystinaElaine.
EDUCATION
I am a proud graduate of the University of Southern California – I graduated with Honors from the Annenberg School of Communication.
FIRST JOB
Does doing my chores around the house count? My mom paid me like $5 a week to vacuum, take out the trash, and do other tidbits around the house growing up – well below minimum wage. I also was a shoe saleswoman at Lady FootLocker and a sales associate at Crate & Barrel throughout high school and college.
FIRST BIG CAREER BREAK
I got my first big break in my career working under Sarita Churchill at Vivendi Universal Games as a PR coordinator. I supported 12 senior publicists and one director, but I was hungry so I was working well beyond my coordinator role on events, global entertainment programs, etc. I was like 21 years old, fresh out of a school!
MY TYPICAL WORK DAY
Oh man! Well now that I am consulting I spend a lot of time at different offices, which I love. Some days you can find me in Hollywood at a media and events startup working out of a cool loft-style space and other days you can find me onsite at a large film and TV studio working in a large conference room on global consumer product launches. You can never find me at home; which is sometimes sad. I’m tired! But I love working for myself so the running around is well worth it.
CURRENT PROJECTS
I’ve been busy working on a few programs around New York and London Fashion Week, rebranding a startup as it seeks to expand, a few smaller home décor products and a project with a film studio.
BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT
Leaving a cushy agency job and jumping feet first into a startup, which was acquired and then leaving that startup to start my own business – all within two years.
AFTER HOURS
When I’m not working I do splurge on private pilates classes – I just feel stronger after I workout and like I can take on the world. I spend a lot of time with my husband and my family and of course who doesn’t love weekend brunch with your girlfriends – Bloody Marys anyone??
FAVORITE THINGS
I can’t live without soft sheets and a warm bed!
INSPIRATION
I’m always inspired by my mom. She’s someone who is like, JUST GO OUT AND GET IT.
SECRET TALENT
If I had a fun talent I definitely would not keep it a secret. But I wish I could sing! I belt out every song on the radio, but there is no talent involved.
BEST ADVICE
Everything will work out fine, not because you want it to, but because it has to.
ADMIRATION
The people I admire the most is anyone who is honest and gives credit where credit is due. I find that most great leaders do not motivate people by money, power or prestige but rather via a mutual respect and runway to effectively do their jobs, excel in their careers and hone their expertise.
WORDS TO LIVE BY
Remember when you get stressed out that there are people who endanger themselves everyday just to merely do their jobs and make a living – we all have it good.
LOOKING AHEAD
In five years time I know I’ll be chasing after multiple children and trying to run my own business.
I LOVE WHAT I DO BECAUSE…
Every once in while you overhear someone talking about a rad campaign they saw and you think hey, I worked on that!
Interview by Octavia Goredema @OctaviaGoredema
What a FANTASTIC article on a FANTASTIC young lady that is definitely a game changer!
Thank you for this @OctaviaGoredema and @TwentyTenTalent – you are doing amazing work for professional women!
This is an article that I knew one day I would read about you. I saw all that enthusiasm when you were a small child. You were so adorable then as you are now. Congratulations, well deserved.
Awesome is Chrystina E Woody Train. A privilege to be her mom.