Aurora Barlam assists our mentees and students for ITSme courses so they can learn new skills that will transform their careers. She also manages the administrative side of ITSme Learning and promotes our content to a wider audience. Prior to ITSme, Aurora was an agent at Astound agency for six years. During that time she brought in millions of dollars of work by negotiating deals for the artists she represented to illustrate New York Times bestsellers and titles by celebrity authors. Some of these titles includeThe Seed of Compassion by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama (illustrated by Bao Luu), The Way Champs Play by Naomi Osaka (illustrated by Kamala Nair), and Gorgeously Me by Jonathan Van Ness (also illustrated by Kamala Nair). Aurora uses these experiences to give rising artists a professional perspective on how to break into a creative career. She previously worked as a freelance designer and art instructor, after graduating with a degree in illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design, so she can use an artist’s eye to give on point feedback. Aurora lives in Brooklyn with her son, her husband, and a fluffy little cat named Midnight. In her spare time she enjoys reading comics, another passion that informs her work with comic book artists and writers.