Each month, industry news media organization XBIZ spotlights the career accomplishments and outstanding contributions of Women in Adult. WIA profiles offer an intimate look at the professional lives of the industry's most influential female executives.
A valued member of one of adult entertainment’s most innovative and influential brands, FanCentro Community Manager Brooke Powell is at the forefront of serving the needs of talent while helping this evolving premium social network platform to grow.
My goal is for every person on the platform to succeed, and I’m willing to do whatever I can to help them do that.
It is an especially demanding position in the face of the coronavirus restrictions and resulting high percent payout promos, which have led many new performers to join the platform, where Powell assists in expediting the talent onboarding process and provides educational resources to help new influencers learn at their own pace.
With market-leading features such as free DMCA services for content producers seeking to fight piracy and a direct messaging tool that allows models and fans to connect, along with options for affiliates and high-profile promotions such as a Lamborghini giveaway, FanCentro has a lot to offer — and Powell is at the forefront of creating relationships that help users master the platform’s intricacies and opportunities.
To gain an insight into her path to becoming FanCentro’s Community Manager, XBIZ turned to this month’s Woman of the Month to learn about her journey, her motivations and her plans for the future.
XBIZ: What did you do before joining the industry and why did you choose adult as a career path?
Powell: When people ask me about how I came to work in the adult industry, I always tell them that I fell into it. Before working with FanCentro, I was in an entirely different type of “adult” industry: I was the community liaison for a nursing home.
It was a job I loved, but it was challenging to be around so much pain and sickness. I am beyond thrilled that I could take the bare bones of that role: the outreach, the problem-solving and the ability to do whatever I could to help someone, and apply the same principles to my position at FanCentro.
I love the freedom and positivity associated with the adult industry. I can honestly say that I’ve met the most gracious and kind people during my time in this role, and it’s an honor to be able to work with them.
XBIZ: What attracted you to the FanCentro team and how has your role for the company evolved?
Powell: Team Centro is second to none. Working with this team is a rollercoaster in the best possible way. Everyone is dedicated, innovative and, most importantly, supportive. During my time here, I’ve been a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. I’ve done copywriting, I’ve traveled to industry events and I’ve been the go-to for influencers on our platform. I enjoy getting my hands on different projects because it gives me the chance to learn even more.
XBIZ: What are some of the ways that your role as Community Manager has allowed you to assist performers and how do you handle reaching out to help educate talent, especially those learning to use a technologically-advanced platform like FanCentro?
Powell: My favorite thing about being Community Manager is the fact that I am the go-to person. I’m an open book by nature, and I hope that I’m able to reflect that outwardly so people know that they can approach me about literally anything. Do I always know the perfect answer? Nope, absolutely not, but I try my hardest to offer solutions to anyone who needs them.
Education is probably the single most important thing I do, because FanCentro has changed a lot! Initially, the platform was a way for influencers to make money from their fan base through premium social media accounts, but with all the new features we’ve rolled out, we’ve become our own social network. It helps that I’m completely in love with our features, so it’s really exciting to get the word out!
We started with the Feed, and now influencers can also DM with their fans and sell clips on their profiles, which is amazing. FanCentro is wonderfully diverse; there are so many ways to sell content on the platform, and each influencer can choose the best options for themselves. It’s crucial that we get that message out. Once our influencers know everything they can do with the platform, they can start to share even more with their fans.
XBIZ: Building a global brand like FanCentro requires strong partnerships and the ability to bring together different viewpoints. How do you develop the relationships you need in your role at FanCentro?
Powell: In my role, the central goal is to create a relationship with influencers on the platform. I need them to know that they can come to me with questions and with concerns, even just to vent. I try to make those connections every day, whether it’s on social media or if I’m lucky enough to be able to speak to someone in person. My goal is for every person on the platform to succeed, and I’m willing to do whatever I can to help them do that.
XBIZ: What is the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your work and what is the best score you’ve made in this industry?
Powell: The biggest challenge I would say was overcoming my hesitancy. I came from a very different background, so I didn’t have the track record a lot of the people on my team have. I think in the early days I was hesitant to put myself out there, I was unsure of what people would think of me — I had no experience in the industry, but I think I was successful because I was willing to learn. My very first industry event was a whirlwind, I had no idea what to expect, and I kind of just went in with my eyes and ears open. It is so wonderful at this point to be able to chat with influencers on the platform who know me and value what I have to say.
XBIZ: Is there anything else on your plate, business-wise, at FanCentro or elsewhere?
Powell: So much! I write FanCentro’s blog, which is a great resource as we put out a ton of information about promotions, new features and just general ideas for using the platform. In the past few weeks, I’ve also had the honor of getting hands-on with our FU Corona campaign. FanCentro is raising money to provide N-95 masks to medical workers on the front lines fighting coronavirus, and I travel to different hospitals weekly to hand out masks that come from donations from fans and influencers.
XBIZ: What does a typical workday look like for you?
Powell: Always crazy and never the same! Because I have my hands in so many projects, I’m used to working with different people all day long, and if we have a new feature or promo coming out (which is always!) I can expect to be busy. I’m on social media and message boards throughout the day, checking out what people are doing and chatting with them, and I’m usually working on research for my next blog post at the same time. I’m lucky in that I have some freedom in how I structure my day, so it’s always interesting.
XBIZ: When you're not working, how do you like to spend your leisure time?
Powell: My off-days are pretty chill. My husband and I have a 14-year-old daughter, which is a learning experience every day. I consider myself lucky because she likes having me around (I think)! On off-days, I generally spend time writing (I’ve got three novels under my belt!) or hanging out with friends and family.
XBIZ: How do you stay motivated and what do you define as “achieving success” in your life?
Powell: I live for anticipation and I never settle for “good enough.” In some ways, it can be tiring to always be on the lookout for the next amazing thing, but I live every day knowing that something amazing could be right around the corner. I don’t see success as a destination, it’s more of a road trip with a lot of stops.
XBIZ: What does the future hold for your work at FanCentro and your personal life beyond?
Powell: I began working with FanCentro when it was still pretty young, so it’s been amazing to see how far we’ve come in such a short amount of time. I’m hopeful that my role will continue to grow, I’ll meet more incredible people, and I’ll continue to pave my own way in the industry.
