Interview: Angela Raiford, Chief of Staff, Operations & Marketing

Nothing is possible at Patreon without its people. Here’s how these Black employees are making magic in the creator economy and charting the course of their careers.

Angela Raiford (she/her) Chief of Staff, Operations & Marketing

What made you decide to join Patreon?

Two things: size and area of focus. Patreon was at a size that allowed me to stretch my knowledge and reach by taking on a growing team. As for our area of focus, my mom is an artist, and I was incredibly inspired by our mission of funding the creative class. Working here means that every day I’m exposed to the great talents of our employees and creators.

What’s the magic of the culture at Patreon?

Creativity! It’s empowering to work somewhere where 100% of the people here are passionate about building and creating. I have never worked somewhere where I can come into the office at 8am and see a CEO playing guitar for folks or having an All Hands meeting closed out by our Senior VP of Finance performing on the drums.

What does Black magic mean to you?

Twinkle, twinkle, baby! It’s hard to put Black magic into words, but it just gives me the internal fire of celebration for myself and everybody Black who is out here putting amazing energy into the world. Just a little extra oomph because nobody celebrates us like us.

How do you stay true to yourself at work?

I try to be honest with my peers and give myself some grace! Not knowing something or being overwhelmed is just a sign I need to take a step back before stepping forward. Resetting with myself and my boss often helps.

What are you envisioning for your career in the future?

In the distant, but visible future, I see myself running a small creative business. At present, I’m just soaking in as many learnings as I can. Working at Patreon has afforded me a wealth of insight and experiences, and I’m trying to stay present and move from good to great at everything that excites me.

Angela Raiford is a support leader turned Chief of Staff, currently working within the Operations and Marketing teams at Patreon. She thrives on challenges involving building high-performing teams, working cross-functionally, and improving employee engagement (including with distributed teams.) When not working, Angela’s hobbies include crafting, puzzles, and bar trivia.