Okay, Shelby, we’re going to start at the beginning. Have any early heroes?

I would have to say, my mom. As a cancer survivor, she taught me how to be a warrior, but also how important it is to surround yourself with people who support and love you. She also taught me that my dreams were possible and I could be anything I wanted to be. 

Amazing. Where are you from?

I grew up in the suburbs outside of Salt Lake City.

And would you say your neighborhood had a strong impact on you? 

Absolutely! My cousins and grandparents lived two houses down from me, so family gatherings were a huge part of my daily life. I was always flexing my creativity muscles, recruiting my cousins to be in the plays I wrote and forcing our parents to watch. I guess that’s what sparked my interest in theater — which is what I ended up going to college for!

Any favorite roles?

I played the comedic sidekick in a production of Xanadu right out of college. I got to wear roller skates — it was so much fun.

Sounds fun! Is there anything else you look back on and think,“Wow. I did that.”

I moved from Salt Lake City to Brooklyn nearly nine years ago with my cat and a few suitcases. We moved into an apartment I’d never visited, in a neighborhood I’d never set foot in. I had no job and only knew one person in NYC. The place was a three-bedroom with four humans, three cats, and two dogs. It was chaos! 

Jumping to the present: what’s the last book you read?

I am currently halfway through the third book in the Game of Thrones series (A Clash of Kings). I’m quite a bookworm and totally obsessed with GOT.

What do you most appreciate about the VMG team you work with?

I appreciate that everyone is so different, but they are all genuinely interested in learning about each other and building those relationships. Differences are celebrated at VMG!

So…roller-skating performer, bookworm, and warrior through chaos. Is that you in a nutshell?

Ha! Only on my best day 😉