Selena Pizarro's Essential List

Selena Pizarro oversees digital, social, art, and broadcast production at RPA, working with clients like American Honda Motor Co., Farmers Insurance, and Homes.com/Apartments.com.

With over 25 years in commercial advertising, she is an award-winning executive producer, having collaborated with agencies like Ogilvy & Mather and Grey Advertising.

Her work has earned her recognition from awards such as Cannes, the Effies, The One Show, the David Ogilvy Awards, the Webbys, and numerous Addy Awards.

Selena is passionate about empowering women in advertising, and mentors young women as often as possible. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, cooking and is a proud mother of two college-aged sons.

Lifestyle

- Place of birth: Vancouver Island, British Colombia, Canada.
- Hometown: Courtenay.
- Staycation: Redondo Beach.
- Vacation: Sitges, Spain.
- Pet: Levi, rescue terrier mutt.
- Place of work: RPA.
- Place of workout: My garage – Peloton bike or Backbone Trail, Santa Monica Mountains (lost to the fires – so sad).
- Good Habit: Coffee.
- Bad Habit: Chips, anytime and anywhere. Fashion.
- Mode of transport: Honda CR-V – brand loyalist to our fantastic client.
- Bonus Travel Essential: Silk dressing gown (so compact and makes such a difference) and No-Jet-Lag pills.

Culture

- Artist: Banksy.
- Musician: Lady Gaga, Ray Lamontagne, Elton John, Cowboy Junkies and Chris Issak.
- Commercials/music video director: Taika Waititi (did our 2025 Super Bowl spot for Homes.com). He is such a talent and so great to work with. Lena Beug as well, because she is so funny and fearless.
- Film director: Oliver Stone, Quentin Tarantino, Greta Gerwig, Wes Anderson, Jacques - Audiard and Kathryn Bigelow.
- Author: Nancy Friday, because she liberated women’s voices.
- Photographer: Helmut Newton, because he photographed women artfully instead of objectifying them.
- Film: ‘Natural Born Killers’.
- Series: ‘Line of Duty’ – most recent best series.
- Invention: The can opener.
- Commercial: Craig Gillespie’s Super Bowl spot for Snickers with Betty White.
- Music Video: Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Humble’ by Dave Meyers. I was working with Dave when he was in post for this one – he is a great director.
- Video Game: I literally hate video games – such a waste of life. The one and only that I’ve played was ‘Pac-Man’, and that was only because it was there at my job.
- Board Game: ‘Monopoly’. I love a game that can last 10 hours and gets everyone riled up.
- Book: ‘Watership Down’ by Richard Adams.
- Graphic Novel: ‘Asterix’, a French comic series.
- Podcast: ‘Blindboy Boatclub Podcast’.
- Newspaper (off or online): New York Times
- Magazine: YOLO Journal – literally candy for a traveller.
- Obsession: Fashion, art, growth, new technology, happiness and humour.
- Bonus Culture Essential: Concerts, movies and art galleries.

Food and Drink

- Breakfast: Eggs, GF toast, many coffees. Karari Gluten-Free Bakery in Redondo Beach.
- Restaurant: Gjelinas – Raw oysters with French fries and the gluten-free crispy duck with pot du creme and a flat white coffee for dessert.
- Cheap bite: In-N-Out Burger – animal-style cheeseburger, fries and a chocolate shake.
- Working lunch: Leftovers from last night.
- Dish: Lamb and sweet potatoes.
- Snack: Dark chocolate with almonds, popcorn and chips.
- Guilty Pleasure: Thrifting and finding the best deals ever or going to this store in Manhattan Beach.
- Bar: Toledo Show on Sunday night at Harvelles in Santa Monica – a surprisingly great time no matter what.
- Booze: Non-alcoholic wine.
- Not Booze: Non-alcoholic champagne.
- Bonus Food: Thinly-sliced avocado with sliced yellow onions, olive oil, a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of salt and pepper. So delicious.
- Bonus Beverage: Turmeric Latte.

Kit

- Phone: iPhone, of course.
- Computer: Mac.
- Headphones: Bose.
- Camera: iPhone.
- Pen/pencil: Whatever I can find.
- Where you document an idea: Notes app on my phone or my bedside journal.
- Casual Clothing: Nili Lotan Shon Jeans and a t-shirt with trainers.
- Smart Clothing: Nili Lotan Shon Jeans, t-shirt, blazer and heels.
- Footwear: Trainers.
- Accessory: As much gold as I can adorn myself with: rings, earrings, bangles, necklaces.
- Collection: Sunglasses.
- Home comfort: Salad bowl from Spencer Petermans.
- App: Homes.com (our amazing client) and such a great website.
- Website: Source Creative.
- Morning grooming/makeup essential: 24-hour Super Stay Matte Ink Lipstick from Maybelline (Loyalist and Dreamer paired for the perfect shade).
- Bonus Kit Essential: My ‘no plan B’ attitude; only plan A, always and forever.