Select Management Group has promoted its Talent Manager, Caroline Nardilla, to Partner, expanding its leadership team as the digital talent management firm strengthens its bi-coastal presence. 

The promotion marks a strategic expansion for the company, which has grown from three employees to over 50 since Caroline joined as its second hire in 2015. 

A twelve-year entertainment industry veteran, Caroline pivoted from traditional film and television to digital content creation during the sector’s nascent stage. After establishing herself in Los Angeles, she relocated to New York in 2018 to launch Select’s East Coast office. This experience provides her with unique operational insights.

In her expanded role, Caroline focuses on talent management while taking on additional leadership responsibilities. She aims to build a team of talent managers and support staff and ensure the NYC office has resources and opportunities equivalent to those of the LA headquarters.

“It’s never been about the title,” Caroline notes about her promotion. “It’s more about my colleagues having the trust and faith in me to be a leader at this company.”

How Select Bridges the Digital-Traditional Media Gap

Select Management Group is making progress in building a bridge between digital and traditional entertainment, as evidenced by its recent success with “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” on Hulu. 

The show began as a digital talent concept and became a top-streaming series.

“A couple of years ago, my colleagues Danielle Pistotnik, Lisa Filipelli, and Georgia Berger took a group of strictly digital talent and envisioned creating a show around them. Fast forward to today… it’s turning out to be a real pop culture phenomenon,” Caroline says.

The company’s approach extends beyond traditional talent management. “Brand deals keep the lights on, but what excites us about working with clients is building long-lasting businesses with and for them,” Caroline explains.

Select’s strategy focuses on selective client partnerships and brand development. “We don’t sign just to sign. We work with talent that we truly believe in and are passionate about,” Caroline says. “Their dreams become our dreams, and we do everything we can to see these projects come to fruition.”

Despite progress, bridging the entertainment divide has brought numerous challenges. 

“Digital talent has to work twice as hard for some opportunities and prove themselves in traditional entertainment,” Caroline notes. “Traditional [media] is coming around to realizing the power of digital talent and what they bring to the table, but it’s been a journey.”

Success Hinging on Authentic Partnerships

Select Management Group talent roster strategies are based on authentic partnerships and sustainable growth. 

“If every one of my clients just accepted brand deals just for the money, then I think they would lose their credibility with the audiences they’ve worked so hard to build,” Caroline says. 

She points out that creativity and originality drive renewal opportunities, citing a recent case where a client secured a year-long contract extension through organic, uncontracted content creation.

“[The client] was an authentic brand fan and was having fun doing it,” Caroline shares. “[The client] posted some extra content, and the brand loved it. They thought they were a really good partner for that reason.”

The company’s approach to content strategy prioritizes sustainability over platform ubiquity. 

“It’s overwhelming, even just as a consumer, to keep up with all the content on all the different platforms,” Caroline notes. “Should you be active on all the platforms? Yes. But if you’re feeling burnout, if you’re feeling tired… don’t force it.”

This personalized management style has led to success stories. Caroline points to Hairitage, a hair care line Select developed alongside Partner Amy Neben and one of her largest clients in the haircare space, Mindy McKnight.The brand, launched in Walmart before expanding to CVS, Kroger, and Amazon, has grown into a nine-figure annual business.

Select’s management philosophy hinges on deep client relationships. “No one client is the same, and each deserves a very personalized and 1:1 relationship with us,” Caroline explains. “I talk to my clients all day and wouldn’t have it any other way. I love the relationships and teams we’ve built that surpass just a business transaction.”

Diversity and Wellness Initiatives to Enhance East Coast Presence

Caroline is implementing a comprehensive strategy that combines social impact with business growth, mainly focusing on the company’s expanding East Coast operations. 

The initiative, known as the Select Impact program, addresses diversity, mentorship, and wellness in the creator economy.

“Through our impact program, we aim to amplify the voices of diverse talent, including women, BIPOC, the LGBTQ community, and other underrepresented groups,” Caroline says, stressing the importance of advocacy throughout all aspects of talent management.

The program also prioritizes mental health and sustainable work practices. 

“We emphasize the importance of self-care and a healthy work-life balance,” Caroline explains. “We’re all better and stronger as a team when we care for ourselves individually.”

Mentorship is a crucial component of Caroline’s leadership strategy. “I’ve had amazing mentors throughout my career and this role. I want to pay that forward and be that for other managers and support staff as they grow in their roles,” she says.

As head of the company’s New York office, Caroline is focused on expanding Select’s East Coast presence. “We’re relatively new and small compared to the LA office, but we’re mighty,” she notes. “I’m always looking for new and amazing individuals who hustle and are hungry and want to be the next generation of incredible, best-in-class managers at Select.”