Today we’d like to introduce you to Axel Oliver.
Hi Axel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Axel Oliver. I am a journalist, correspondent, TV producer, TV host, reporter, and content creator. Since I was a child, I’ve always loved the world of entertainment. I was born and raised in Barcelona and studied journalism and communication at the International University of Catalonia.
At 24 years old, I decided to leave home and come to Miami with the idea of taking a short vacation in the city. However, what started as a pleasure trip turned into a unique opportunity that completely changed my career. I decided to do more than just tourism, so I began dropping off my CVs and resumes at small local radio and television stations, although everyone told me the same thing: without residency, you can’t do anything. Through persistence, I managed to meet Jose Prado, the owner of the Hispanic channel Telemiami, who offered me an unpaid three-month internship, which coincidentally was the length of my tourist visa.
Even though I didn’t know the city well and my English wasn’t fluent yet, I dove headfirst into this new adventure, exploring Miami with my small camera in hand and memorizing the directions to the places where I needed to record. After those three months, I returned to Spain with a very clear vision of my future. I bought my first camera, a Canon XA10, at Dolphin Mall. I worked as a reporter for three months and was given free rein on television. I started working as a reporter and television producer, learning a lot during those three months.
After that, I returned to Spain with a clear vision of my future. Thanks to several Spanish companies, I obtained a work permit as a correspondent in the United States and began collaborating with media outlets such as La Vanguardia, Televisión Española, and Telecinco, which allowed me to return to Miami. I spent three years working on entertainment programs like Cazamariposas in Spain, sports shows like El Chiringuito de Jugones or Pelota, and I was also involved in local political programs in South Florida on small stations like CNN Latino Miami, Mira TV, and Telemiami. In fact, I was the correspondent for Annette Taddeo, the former state senator of Florida.
All my work didn’t go unnoticed because Telemundo noticed me, and a well-known show called Suelta la Sopa opened its doors to me. There, I was able to interview big stars like Channing Tatum, Maluma, J Balvin, Luis Fonsi, Xavi, Amy Summer, and Jamie Fox. I was a correspondent for various music awards shows from Las Vegas, such as the Billboard Awards. I also had the opportunity to cover the Latin Grammys. Somehitng that I always been dreaming about it was t be one day in these awards previously mentioned. When in spain, as a teenager, I used to wake up at 2am to watch these music awards. So dreams come true.
Coming back to my story, when I started to work in Telemundo around 2017 I became heavily involved in content creation, using my social media extensively due to my exposure as a reporter, particularly developing an interest in fashion on social media and learning to create content for brands.
I’ve worked with brands like Lacoste, Gap, Creed, Express, and Schwarzkopf. Currently, I am a reporter and television producer on a Univision program called Siéntese Quien Pueda, and I run my small social media agency, working with various clients, offering them social media management, content creation, and digital content strategy. Additionally, throughout my career, I have earned two Telly Awards and have been nominated for an Emmy with my Telemundo team on Suelta la Sopa. My passion for entertainment has taken me very, very far, and I haven’t limited myself to just journalism or television production. I like to evolve and try new things, and social media has always been a world I’ve loved. I’ve had the opportunity to travel all over the United States working as a reporter, and that is an experience that will be forever etched in my memory.
I am also proud to be called founding member of ARKHAUS, a new era of private social clubs which will be launches in two months in Miami.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like any immigrant, the journey has definitely not been easy; in fact, it’s been very tough. We all know that the entertainment industry is complicated, and there are people who don’t like to see you succeed. I’ve always had to face a lot of criticism, but none of it has ever been stronger than my unwavering faith and my commitment to doing good work. I always turned a deaf ear to all the gossip and just kept moving forward, doing what I love and what I feel is right in the moment.
I know that many colleagues might have mocked me for venturing into the world of fashion on social media—journalist colleagues, peers—but at the end of the day, I believe people evolve and need to try new things to discover what lies ahead for them. That’s exactly why today, I offer social media services, because I’ve been able to learn a lot over the past few years.
On top of everything, the pandemic was not an easy time in Miami. I was unable to leave the country, and due to immigration issues with an attorney who provided poor service and lacked professionalism, I was forced to stay in the country for five years, unable to leave. I’ve been living in Florida for 12 years, all alone, without any family or partner, working and building my future, and that hasn’t been easy. As a child, I was also someone who was very afraid of cameras, a very shy person. Yet today, I work both in front of and behind the camera, precisely because I like to face my fears, and I believe it’s the only way to keep moving forward.
Fortunately, the United States is a country with a very open mindset that pushes you to explore your abilities to the fullest. You discover yourself, and skills that you never thought you could capitalize on, you can do so in this country.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Currently, I am combining two roles.. On one hand, I am a tv host, reporter, and television producer on the Univision program Siéntese Quien Pueda, and on weekends, I offer services through AXL Productions. Throughout my time here in Miami, I have learned so much about social media that I now manage the social media accounts of several clients, handling social media management, posting, and recording all the content myself, even editing it.
What likely sets me apart from others is that I also offer presenter services. This means that if someone needs a presenter to showcase their service, I can do it myself and appear on camera, asking questions, presenting my clients’ products, and promoting their services, etc. If someone needs content creation and social media management, I am the best in Miami, and I offer very competitive prices.
Another thing that sets me apart from others is my extensive background of over 12 years.
How do you think about happiness?
At the end of the day, what makes me happy is being able to do what I love, living in the city of my dreams, and helping others. After all, we’re here in this world to help each other. Reggaeton also makes me very happy, by the way, and Miami is full of reggaeton.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: axloliver thesociaxl
- Linkedin: axloliver
- Youtube: axloliver
- Other: https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20220910/8508909/becario-conquisto-miami-vacaciones-axel-oliver.html
Image Credits
by axloliver
