Phoenix Gonzalez is the Co-founder of dotstudioPRO, a next generation Online Video Technology company that launches over-the-top streaming video networks on platforms like Web, iOS, Android, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV to name a few. With over 15 years of experience in business development and sales, her passion and profession lie at the intersection of media and technology. With a proven track record for leadership and success, she has had the opportunity to found, launch and grow a successful entertainment technology company dotstudioPRO whose clients include the likes of Minnesota Vikings, Washington Redskins and American Beauty Star Network. Phoenix has successful generated millions of dollars in sales for dotstudioPRO, helped secure $1.5 Million in investment for dotstudioPRO.
As a female co-founder of an entertainment technology company, Phoenix knows the importance of giving back to her peers. In 2017 she joined the LA Board of the National Nonprofit “Step Up Women’s Network”, helping mentor underprivileged teen girls from under-resourced areas getting them career ready and off to College. She also sits on the Advisory Board of “Take the Leads” new initiative “50 Women Can Change the World in Media & Entertainment’, which is a 4-month intensive and intimate women’s leadership training program specifically tailored for women in Media & Entertainment to open the door to deeper understanding and a quickened pace to equality for all.
Phoenix is a powerhouse who continues to defy all odds in her career and has been recognized by her peers in multiple industries.
Why did you found your company?
Born out of Necessity, dotstudioPRO was was founded out of a need to control our produced content distribution and monetization. This sparked the interest of investors who saw that what we were building filled a hole in the market back in 2013 so they invested in my co-founding team.
What is it about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?
We are enabling content owners, sports franchises and entertainment companies to cut through the noise and go direct-to-consumer, unlike our competitors.
In a matter of weeks our client are launching and finding audience to support their business strategies so they can quickly make the right business moves to grow their digital content networks.
We all need a little help along the journey — who have been some of your mentors?
Gregg Bernard — Founding Venture Partner at NextGen Ventures
Peter Dawidzik — Head of Business Development and Sales at iStream Planet (AT&T)
How are you going to shake things up next?
With dotstudioPRO, we are in a massive growth spurt and have just launched our new sports division to help support all of our recent success in the sports world of OTT.
Personally, I am launching a new company born out of a need to fix my greying hair and drying skin called Silked.co. I invented a open-ended pillowcase cover made out silk that is launching at the end of July, which has been featured on Celebrity Page TV Network and Hello Beautiful Magazine as a must have.
Can you share 3 of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.
NEVER let the word NEVER stop you: I was in a car accident at the age 21. I flatlined at the scene of the accident and then twice on the way to the hospital, where I underwent 3 surgeries, 1 on my brain, 2 on my arm.
I spent 2 weeks in a medicated coma and the doctors told my family I would NEVER be able to perform simple things like walking, talking and reading properly again, nor would I be able to go back to school to finish out my schooling. I am a survivor and NEVER let what they said keep me from succeeding.
I went on to take acting to get me brain back and became a successful actress in Canada where acted in movies like “The Tuxedo” with Jackie Chan, Jason Issacs and Jennifer Love-Hewitt. I ended up traveling to the Cannes Film festival with the first feature film I starred in and found success in Cannes and a whole lot more that lead me to becoming the entrepreneur I am today.
You can: At 19, I won the title of Miss Teen Toronto in my hometown, which took me to Florida to compete in Miss Cities of America were I won first runner up. You can do anything you put your heart to, it’s all a matter of perspective.
Fight for what you want: As female entrepreneur, I have had the opportunity to help my team raise the funding needed to grow our company. I remember walking into a VC’s office to meet with them about investment and when they realized they were meeting with a woman, they told me they thought they were meeting with a our CEO who is a Man and asked why he wasn’t at the meeting.
Instead of taking me seriously the VC’s decided to eat his lunch and look at his phone while I pitched and then follow up with a NO. I went on to secure 1M in investment from a Super Angel 4 weeks later. That super Angel looked at me and said “I am investing in you because I know you will die trying.”
What’s a book/podcast/talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Share a story with us.
I LOVE Digital Production Buzz with Larry Johnson. I have listened to Larry over the years and when I was approached this May to be on the show I jump at the opportunity. The Podcast was on The Challenges for Women in Media.
I got the opportunity to share my perspectives on being a women in the industry and left it at that. 2 weeks later I got an email from a complete stranger (female) who reached out to express her gratitude for what I had shared. You never know the impact sharing your personal and professional experience will have on others. I am honored to have made that impact.
Some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this. 🙂
I am on my path and know that we are meant to meet people who help impact our live when the time is right. I am opening to meeting the right person that resonates with my story and is interested in helping me continue to shape my career path.
How can our readers follow you on social media?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoenixgonzalez/
https://www.facebook.com/phoenixgonzalez
Originally published at medium.com