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Shane Michael Singh
Award-winning journalist and editorial director
Shane Michael Singh is an accomplished professional currently serving as the Director of Editorial at United Talent Agency (UTA), a role he assumed in 2023.3 With a diverse background in journalism, editorial leadership, and creative strategy, Singh has built an impressive career spanning various industries.
Education and Early Career
Singh graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism, Film and Media Studies in 2010.1 He also pursued studies in Economics at Harvard University, though the specific timeline for this is not provided.1
Professional Experience
Throughout his career, Singh has held several notable positions:
- United Talent Agency: Currently serving as Director of Editorial since 20233
- Godfrey Dadich Partners: Editorial Director (2021-2023)1
- The Trevor Project: Brand Partnerships and Corporate Development Manager (2019-2021)1
- Playboy Enterprises, Inc.: Held various roles from Research Editor to Executive Editor (2011-2019)14
- Kellogg School of Management: Social Media and Web Coordinator (2011-2012)1
Expertise and Achievements
Shane Michael Singh is known for his:
- Award-winning journalism2
- Editorial direction and strategy execution
- Content production across various formats
- Brand partnerships and corporate development
- LGBTQ-focused campaign development
Notable Contributions
At Playboy, Singh played a crucial role in leading editorial direction and enhancing the brand's cultural influence.1 During his time at The Trevor Project, he oversaw cause marketing campaigns and developed LGBTQ-focused initiatives across industries.1
Singh's current role at United Talent Agency, one of the most influential companies in the entertainment industry, allows him to continue leveraging his extensive experience in editorial leadership and content strategy.3
Highlights
For creatives, it's important to uplift, share, and celebrate colleagues and peers whose work you admire. In this instance, it also comes with a lot of pride.
This week, in partnership with photographer Platon (who happens to be a UTA client), Scott Dadich and the team at Godfrey Dadich Partners debuted a short film, "AMERICAN FAMILY | A FILM ABOUT FREEDOM," at the DNC.
The five-minute visual portrait of everyday Americans works to recenter (or reclaim, some will say) in our cultural consciousness the fundamental narratives that define "freedom" — a word that, depending on the context, can be anything from rudimentary to explosive to hyperbolic.
But in featuring voices of people who heartedly exchange hostility for hope, the film expresses earnestness without pandering; vulnerability without tokenization, and humanity without hate.
You can watch it here: https://lnkd.in/gS-NV9vW
Massive congratulations to my former GDP fam (including Paula Chowles, Keith Yamashita, Zuberoa Marcos, PhD, and many more) on crafting this celebration.
I had a fun time today chatting with local youth about how to build a career in entertainment, as part of a program organized by United Talent Agency with LA Promise Fund.
My path to becoming a global talent agency's first editorial director was far from predictable, but a passion for storytelling — and embracing it despite the innate economic uncertainty — is the connective thread.
When a student asked, "What do you wish you would have done more of to prepare for your career?", I surprised myself and spit out, "Don't be afraid of what pulls at your heart."
Indeed, careers are often gambles on hope and wars on fear: Am I doing this right? Am I doing this well? Is there more? Do I need more? For some of us, the imposter syndrome just doesn't quit.
In talking to students eager to figure it out, I remembered a younger version of myself. And I realized these thoughts represent the part of us that never grows up — that no matter how far we take ourselves, so much of this (it's LinkedIn, so I'm talking about work/career/growth/survival) comes back to the joy of having a dream. The anxiety of wondering if it'll only be just that. The trust to just keeping following that thread.
The thread that pulls.
There’s no revelatory takeaway here; instead it’s just a reminder that if you’ve held on to some dream since being a kid and made a real — don’t forget to give yourself some credit. It’s not easy.
And then don’t forget to pass it on.
