Today we’d like to introduce you to Felicia Campbell.
Felicia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I never thought I’d end up becoming a writer. I joined the army when I was 17 and deployed to Iraq just after my 19th birthday. In a twist of fate, I ended up falling in love with the people and the food there, which set me on a path that lead me to graduate school in New York, where I studied Middle Eastern food culture and a career in magazines and newspapers that brought me back to the Middle East, where I ended up writing the first book about Omani cuisine and history, and running a magazine in Muscat. I see food as a great point of connection for people from diverse backgrounds, which is why, when I moved back to the States, I found a new home at Edible San Diego magazine. As the executive digital editor, I love being able to share the stories of San Diego County through our coverage of food, drink, and the people behind it all.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Becoming a professional writer is not an easy path. You certainly don’t do it for the money. But I found that every experience I had, from being a soldier to working gigs at the VA hospital to being a personal assistant fetching lunch, has served me along the way, either building character or giving me inspiration. The most important piece of advice I would give is to surround yourself with a community of other writers. They know what you’re going through, and the writer/freelancer life can be a lonely one. I teach workshops at Writer’s Ink in Liberty Station as one way to stay connected, and whenever I’m working on a book, I sign up for a read and critique class for the accountability and camaraderie it offers.
Please tell us about your work.
My specialty as a writer is telling human stories through the lens of food. Hearts and Minds, my essay on eating in the Iraq war that I wrote for Saveur magazine, was nominated for a James Beard Award and an IACP award, as was my book, “The Food of Oman: Recipes and Stories from the Gateway to Arabia.” I am currently editing my latest book, which is a memoir about the transformative year I spend in Iraq as a teenage soldier in 2003.
As an editor, I specialize in launching new publications and re-designing or re-positioning existing publications as engaging, multi-media platforms. I also love working with writers to help them tell their stories better, which is something I do with the writers I work with at Edible and those who I work with privately as a writing coach and instructor.
Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
That’s an interesting question. I’ve never thought of the challenges to my authority as barriers, in the Army or in my role in a male-dominated publishing house in the Middle East.
I learned early on in my career that there is a double standard. My mother, a Ph.D. research scientist actually taught me that. Women who try to lead in a more masculine or aggressive-style are labeled “bitches” or “emotional”, even when we are simply modeling the leadership we see in our male superiors. To be honest, often we are being assholes in those cases, the difference is, male leaders, get more of a pass when it comes to being assholes. This isn’t fair, but it’s real.
I fought that idea when I was first a soldier, but I realized that to accomplish my goals and get my staff on board, it was vital that I learn to be firm, but measured in the way I dealt with issues. In publishing, I’ve worked with many editors-in-chief who shout at staff, but I never do. Even when mistakes are made and we are deep in the storm, I keep my temper in check and hold myself to a higher level of professionalism.
My leadership style is collaborative. I like the people I work with to have a sense of ownership over their work and to feel pride in it. I am very direct and I don’t mince words, but I believe in treating everyone with respect, which is a good core value for any leader, male or female.
Contact Info:
- Website: ediblesandiego.com
- Email: felicia@ediblesandiego.com
- Instagram: @hungryfi
- Twitter: @hungryfi
- Other: www.feliciacampbell.com
Image Credit:
@hungryfi
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