Meet Zania Sala

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zania Sala.

Zania, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My voiceover career happened by accident. I was aiming for a career in music as a singer but life took me in another direction. Here’s how…

I landed a spot in Puerto Rico’s singing reality TV Show called “Objetivo Fama” back in 2004. That show opened the doors to TV hosting on Univision Puerto Rico. As part of the two hosting jobs I landed, I had to do some voiceovers for Radio and TV. And so it began!

Sometime after that, I moved to Miami to do two things; (1) continue my search for a singing career and (2) to complete my internship credit for graduation from Berklee College of Music. I got that internship spot at Viacom International Media Networks, parent company to Nickelodeon, MTV, and VH1 among others. Ah ha! You know where this is going, right?

Upon finishing my internship, I got offered an assistant job within the Post-Production & Customizations Department. That’s when I was invited to do some voice tests. I ended up adding my voice to some promos, show narrations, internal training videos, and marketing content for the next eight years.

I bounced around several departments at Viacom, survived the recession, climbed the corporate ladder and ended up with a private office, a decent salary and a shiny title within the Tech Department. I had reached the top… or so I thought because my entire being felt like it was at the very bottom.

In 2013, I quit my job at Viacom. I’m a creative, and while I was allowed creative freedom within my job description, it just wasn’t what my soul needed. I didn’t know what that was, exactly, but I knew that I wasn’t going to find it there. While I did try to change my environment, my work strategies, and mindset while at Viacom, it just didn’t work. So, I left.

Where had my singing career gone? Nowhere. Even though I worked at it on the side for a long time, it just wasn’t happening. So I made the decision to take a step back and remove myself from it all. It turned out, it was the best thing I did.

So, my search for something better began. I attended self-development conferences and workshops, met with freelancers and small business owners, took online courses (such as Seth Godin’s altMBA) and kept myself busy. I felt alive again and on the right path.

Then, I had my first son, Alfie. Game changer. So, I became a stay-at-home-mom. Oh my GOD! Being a Mom is the craziest thing that has ever happened to me. It’s soooo hard! I love that kid to the moon and back, but I also knew that I wanted to give him the very best version of me that I could give him and that meant that I would start working again. So, after much thought and digging (while the baby napped) voiceovers resurfaced.

On January 2017, I launched my part-time, work from home business as a freelancing voiceover talent and I can’t even describe how fulfilling it felt to be back. Not only back to work, but within my very own business AND behind the microphone! I mean, what more could I ask for?!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My struggles to get to where I now have mostly been having to face tough feelings of inadequacy, not feeling like I was enough, my insecurities and letting go of others’ perceptions of me.

Growing up, I was also under the impression that in order to be “successful” one had to make tons of money, be publicly recognized/famous, have a corner office and/or have a shiny title. While all of those may be labeled as “success” to some people, it took me years to figure out that those weren’t good enough reasons for me.

All of these struggles are still a work in progress. The difference is that now I can identify those feelings/thoughts/mindset and tackle them head-on. I am braver, stronger and I don’t believe I have to prove anything to anyone.

I’m currently paving my own road to success, and I feel like I’m more on my way now that I ever have been.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I offer my voiceover and singing talents for content such as corporate explainers and training, commercials/jingles for radio and TV and I’m starting to love animation and dubbing. Most all of the work I do is audio for video formats.

I’m fully bilingual in Spanish and English and can transition seamlessly from one language to the other. I’m hearing more and more content that requires Spanglish talent, so I might start shifting towards that and perhaps make that my niche. That’s still something I need to work on.

I’m proud of making the initial leap into this business on my own. I’ve left fear behind and just gone for it. It feels so freeing to be able to work with my talents, have control and be able to be with my kids as well. I certainly don’t have it all figured out but I’m loving the journey. It’s tough, but I love it nonetheless.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My husband deserves soooooo much credit. Without him and his support financially, emotionally and with the kids, this would not have been possible. Supporting me on this journey is the second best gift he could have ever given me (the first are our two sons).

I also have to give tons of credit to my brothers Tony and J’Andres for helping me with the kids when I need to go to castings or recordings outside of my home studio. They are the best uncles my kids could ever ask for. Oh, and my brother J’Andres got me my first mic, a Rode NT-1.

My parents, Joey and Melanie, are also big supporters. They get pumped every time I get a new project. My mom usually finds out through Instagram. Go figure.

My agent Aidita and her team at Bohemian Sound Miami. My clients from all over the world, Univision, Viacom, VideoTelling, MoneyTree, Zinc Learning Labs and ONU-United Nations, to name a few. I’m also grateful for aunt Janice, Luly B., Raul Reyes, my fellow alumni at Seth Godin’s alt MBA, and then there’s Anne Ganguzza and Gabby Nistico from the VO BOSS podcast (I don’t know them, but I feel like I do) and they have given me tons of valuable information about the industry.

It takes a village.

Contact Info:

• Website: zania.net
• Phone: 305.878.2752
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @zaniavox
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zaniavoice/
• Other: www.zaniamusic.com

Image Credit:
Headshot image: Gabriel Sanchez, Orange Headphones image: Gabriel Sanchez

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