W(o)W: Chelsea Harris x Economic Development Marketing
Inquisitive. Creative. Enthusiastic. A Dreamer. A Strategizer. An idea creator.
Chelsea Harris is an LSU graduate #geauxtigs and an OG of the Prancing Babycakes Mardi Gras Dance Troupe! Her love for Louisiana is evident in everything she does, she enjoys experiencing everything the state of Louisiana has to offer including festivals, and she loves to share these experiences with others. She is a newly wed and just married her husband in September in Sedona, Arizona looking at the Red Rocks (congrats!).
Chelsea first began non-profit work with the LSU Museum of Art. She was involved in creating a young professional organization that was designed to increase awareness about the museum and attract new members. She led monthly events that took over multiple floors of the Shaw Center and in conjunction with exhibitions.
“A few years ago, we had a "‘King Cake Off’ where each person bought their favorite King Cake for tasting/competition. Team-building time is essential in creating collaboration and this was one way I did just that with my team.”
Through her work Chelsea was able to meet new people and shares how this experience was instrumental to her career. Through this work she was exposed to the incredible Baton Rouge community. She eventually found herself in the niche of online marketing after creating the museum’s social media platforms (at this time that included MySpace #throwback). Soon, friends of Chelsea that owned small businesses and restaurants in town began to hire her to handle their marketing and social media.
She engaged in marketing and event planning for the BR Food Bank then transitioned to work for the state. This included managing the digital marketing for Louisiana Economic Development (LED), she managed many national campaigns and projects during this time. Chelsea transferred to FastStart, a workforce development arm of LED, and led a major software initiative and national campaign aimed at getting Louisiana expats to come back home!
Following her time at FastStart she worked at Success Labs, a small boutique consulting firm focused on leadership development. She managed the in-house leadership development programs and coached high-potentials and performers for major companies across the region while also doing speaking engagements for conferences and training programs.
This is a typical day for Chelsea—especially during these quarantine days.
Following this, Chelsea was offered her dream job, the opportunity to work for Entergy and lead their marketing for their economic development efforts. She shares her love for the company and how Entergy pulled together a team to create resources for the small business community when the pandemic hit. Their goal was not to recreate what their chambers and partners were creating but to serve as a conduit and disseminate the information to those who needed it most.
Through the years Chelsea has served on many non-profit boards and is currently the Vice President of the Board for the Baton Rouge Children's Advocacy Center and a member of the LABI (Louisiana Association of Business and Industry) Emerging Leaders Council.
She enjoys knowing that her efforts collaboratively make a positive impact on the community.
The tag line for Entergy is “We Power Life.” Chelsea acknowledges the truth in this statement and how she takes pride in it. Online marketing consistently sparks Chelsea’s interest with its constant change, which brings refreshing excitement. She loves everyone that makes up her industry including designers, writers, developers, creatives, analysts, and other remarkable minds and people who all continually inspire her.
Chelsea pushes back against challenges because she believes there is always a solution and a problem can always be solved. If needed, she will she bring in all of the smartest people she knows and listen to them in an attempt to reach a solution that encompasses all of the advice she receives.
Chelsea considers these her “pre-quarantine” Rachel Zoe Mules (too relatable!). “They pump me up, they are beautiful, comfortable, and a little sassy.”
Don’t let failures become your flaws. Instead Chelsea recommends to let failures drive you forward and inspire you to build the path to your dreams. Dream big. She addresses the fact that in life there will always be people who are skeptics or those who are envious, but the key is to not let that infect your thinking but propel you toward your dreams because you are in charge.
If not too busy with all the amazing initiatives she has welcomed into her life, you can find Chelsea almost anywhere. She might be hanging with her 180 lb. Great Dane, riding around town on her tricycle (we need more of this!), drinking nice wine with friends, dancing with the Babycakes, supporting the CAC (Children’s Advocacy Center), or sharing ideas and dreaming of new projects and products with friends and colleagues.
Chelsea’s perspective on purpose has recently shifted after the unexpected passing of her mother this past April. She shares profound wisdom that these recent times have shown her and explains how:
“Purpose to me is being intentional about what you do, whatever it is and whenever it is. Not only being intentional and thoughtful, but putting your entire self into whatever it is. Don’t refrain. When it hurts and it is hard, strive to find that inner-child, that person inside of you that you're proud of and share her with the world.”
Looking ahead, Chelsea is eager to continually inspire others and be inspired, grow and create with innovation and thoughtfulness.