Boyle always wanted to work at “Ellen,” and over the years attended tapings of the show. On her trip to L.A., she got an exclusive backstage tour, where she heard all about what it was like to work there. She is actually the second Flagler alumnus to be employed at "Ellen," as it is also home to Jamie Belz, '98, who began as an editor before working his way into larger roles.
“It wasn't until I went to L.A. my senior year at Flagler that it even crossed my mind that I could work somewhere like 'Ellen,'” Boyle said. When she saw a job opening after graduating, she knew this was her chance to make that dream a reality and landed a position as a Rights and Clearance Assistant.
“Her 'be kind to one another' message is definitely something that has inspired me for years and encouraged me to apply for the position,” she said. “I always walked away from the tapings thinking about how incredible it would be to have the opportunity to be involved (there).”
Boyle didn't land the job right after posing next to Ellen's infamous white armchair with her peers. After graduating from Flagler in 2018 with a degree in Strategic Communication, she made the move to L.A. to get her master's in music industry administration from California State University in 2020 in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Finding a job during a global crisis was a struggle.
So, when she saw the job opening, she jumped at it and went through numerous interviews before landing the position. Boyle said she learned a lot from the experience, and how perseverance and hard work can payoff. “I applied for over 200 jobs before I got this one,” she said. “You just have to stay persistent and not lose sight of your goals. I got very lucky to have the best support system out there to keep me motivated when I felt like giving up.”
Now, not only does she get to work on a show she idolizes, but she also gets to collaborate between the digital teams, producers and more. While the “Ellen” show is going to be ending in 2022, she is already thinking about what's next and aspiring to one day become a talent booker for “Jimmy Kimmel Live” or some other show.
