Nigel Garcia talks about her bold leap from Manila to Manhattan and how she&rsquo;s redefining success in the world&rsquo;s most competitive city.

Many aspiring talents dream of setting foot on the streets of New York &mdash; the iconic city whose name has become synonymous with a change that could transform one&rsquo;s life and career trajectory. For Nigel Garcia, she did exactly that.&nbsp; Talking with L&rsquo;Officiel Philippines, the creative powerhouse, takes us through her journey from Manila to the cultural melting pot of New York, where she pursued further her studies, taking up a degree in Fashion Marketing and Communications at Parsons the New School, advancing her professional career.
With over a decade of experience in the fashion industry as a photographer and videographer, Garcia has built a remarkable portfolio, collaborating with major fashion magazines and renowned brands like Est&eacute;e Lauder, Clinique, Sunnies Studios, and Ray-Ban. One campaign she&rsquo;s particularly proud of is&nbsp; Est&eacute;e Lauder&rsquo;s Breast Cancer Campaign 30th Anniversary. &ldquo;Not only did I get to apply my creativity to create content with impact, but I also witnessed the power of storytelling to bring people together for a greater cause. It was a reminder of why I am passionate about what I do &mdash; using my skills to make a difference and raise awareness on issues that truly matter.&rdquo;

Yet, despite her success in the Philippines, she felt driven to expand her horizons. &ldquo;Moving from Manila to New York was about diving into the unknown and taking a leap that I knew would redefine my career. I was happy with what I was doing, but I wanted to push my boundaries, both personally and professionally, on a larger platform,&rdquo; she explains.
Arriving in New York meant starting from scratch, which pushed Garcia to be resourceful and to find new modes of expression. &ldquo;Coming here without knowing anyone and having to build connections from scratch definitely influenced my creative approach. I couldn&rsquo;t execute my ideas as freely as I did back in Manila, where I had a network and resources in place. It was humbling but also motivating &mdash; I had to learn to work with what was available.&rdquo;

Now a creative producer and digital marketer based in Manhattan, Garcia draws on her background to excel in her current role. &ldquo;Photography has given me a strong eye for visuals &mdash; knowing how to frame, capture, and edit shots that resonate. Digital marketing, on the other hand, has taught me how to think strategically about those visuals, how to engage with audiences, and how to leverage content across platforms to drive brand growth.&rdquo;
In the fast-paced environment of New York, Garcia says, you&rsquo;re constantly pushed to stay ahead of trends, keep ideas fresh, and ensure your work stands out. Producing and shooting her first campaign for Argento Vivo, a well-known jewelry brand, was a success but came with its fair of challenges, she shares. With the brand&rsquo;s constant product drops, Garcia had to adapt quickly to the high-speed content production that e-commerce requires. &ldquo;Thankfully, my past experience producing big shoots helped me create a smooth workflow, and I was thrilled with how it all came together. &ldquo;

Breaking into the fashion and digital marketing industries requires grit, resilience, and a commitment to constant growth. &ldquo;Take any opportunity to build your portfolio and showcase your skills &mdash; even small projects or collaborations can open doors to bigger opportunities,&rdquo; Garcia advises. She adds that networking is equally essential, as connections fuel fashion and marketing. &ldquo;Get involved in communities, attend events, and reach out to people whose work you admire.&rdquo;
&ldquo;When you feel like giving up, think about the future self you&rsquo;re working to become. Visualize the career, the creative achievements, and the person you aspire to be, and remember that every challenge you face now is shaping that path.&rdquo;

Meet the Filipina Creative Making Significant Moves in The Big Apple

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