Meet Sia Savvy: Television Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sia Savvy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sia, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Having a healthy appetite for risk has been the cornerstone for much of the success I have enjoyed in both my personal and professional life. For me, accepting risk is about understanding the reward and knowing that I can overcome any adversity that may come my way as a result of taking a chance on me. I believe that most of us are adverse to risk because we only focus on what can be lost and ignore what can be achieved. That doesn’t mean that I just throw caution to the wind. I make calculated decisions based on the information I can gather and research. Before any venture, I’m asking questions: What can go wrong? What can go right? What is my current tolerance for risk? What are the mitigating factors? Who can best be served if I’m successful? Who will be hurt if I fail? Based on the answers to these questions and more, I make a decision! I either go for it or I walk away. Either way, I have no regrets. Taking risks have ultimately afforded me the opportunity to find myself in situations where I lack the pedigree on paper, but I have the savvy and know-how to get the job done. For me, taking risks is largely about saying “yes” and believing in my skills and abilities. I believe we should all be willing to gamble on ourselves. We should all take a chance and say, “I got this!”

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a television producer currently working on multiple shows for TVOne, Oxygen, and Animal Planet. Creating storylines and bringing those stories to life is my passion. I have been blessed to have a career that I love so dearly. I worked in corporate America as a project manager and business consultant for many years before making the transition into television. I spent my days at a desk, my nights and weekends were spent moonlighting in the entertainment world whenever an opportunity presented itself. I started as an entry-level production assistant and worked my way up. I took production and writing classes to sharpen my skills. I volunteered my services, I shadowed professionals in the business to gain real world experience. Once I felt confident that I could take on a new role, I put myself out there. I started by applying for multiple field production opportunities and heard a lot of “no” in the beginning, however, I did not let it stop me from moving forward. Eventually someone took a chance on me and my career has flourished quicker than I ever imagined. I was able to leave my corporate job and work as a television producer full-time. The greatest lesson I learned in making this transition is that it’s ok to do what you must do until you can afford to do what you love. I learned that it is important to constantly hone your craft, there is always something new to learn a new skill to add to your arsenal. Being a lifelong student of your craft will ensure that you are always growing and getting better with every project.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Atlanta is a very fun city with lots of nightlife and culture! A few of my favorite restaurants are Negril Village Atlanta, Le Petit Marche and Rock Steady Atlanta. These are just a few places where the grown and sexy love to eat, drink and be merry! The Civil Rights Museum is a must see when visiting Atlanta. Learning about the global struggles for human rights can be both educational and inspiring. The High Museum of Art is also an amazing opportunity for any art lover to expand his/her love for diverse artistic perspectives.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a huge shout out to my husband Tony Massey host of “Tony Massey Cooks”. Tony has been the most amazing partner both personally and professionally. I could not have made it this far without his unyielding support and amazing talent.

Instagram: @siasavvy
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/siasavvystewart

Image Credits
Tony Massey David McCauley Jack Manning