Kimberly Ocampo-Shah on Building a Boutique Content Agency That Transforms Business Stories
Originally published on Canvas Rebel (May 30,2025)
How did you come up with the name of your company?
I actually can't take credit for naming the company – that honor goes to my husband and co-founder, Rajiv Shah. The name was inspired by a profound scene from Bruce Lee's movie 'Enter the Dragon,' where Bruce Lee mentors a young student about the meaning of 'emotional content.'
In the scene, Bruce Lee says:
'Don't think... feel. It is like a finger pointing away to the moon. Don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory.'
This philosophy perfectly captures what we do at Emotional Content Productions. While we're in the video business, nothing we create is just for show – our purpose is to get to the essence of a subject while keeping our focus on the bigger picture. As Bruce Lee encourages in this scene, one must 'feel' to connect with clarity and purpose.
Each video we create is unique to the client we serve, but what ties them all together is the emotional content woven into their stories. We believe each piece is distinct, purposeful, and resonant because it contains genuine emotional content.
What makes me proudest is that clients often come to us looking for 'just a video,' but they end up finding their story. That's the power of emotional content – it transforms a simple video project into a meaningful narrative that truly connects with audiences.
About You, Your Work, Services & Brand
At Emotional Content Productions (ECP), we believe every business has a story worth telling. As the founder, alongside my husband Rajiv Shah, we've built a boutique content agency that transforms authentic stories into compelling digital narratives that move hearts and drive action. Our journey into storytelling wasn't just about creating content—it was about filling a crucial gap in the digital landscape where audiences crave authenticity, and that's exactly what we deliver. This vision has earned us recognition as Local Business Person of the Year in Los Altos for two consecutive years and a spot among Alignable's Top 50 Women Leaders in 2025. What sets us apart is our selective approach to partnerships, choosing to work with established businesses that value authentic communication. Our success stories, like Turbow Farms being featured in Silicon Valley Magazine and St. Simon Parish School's community-focused content, speak to the power of genuine storytelling. In an industry often focused on quick wins and viral moments, we're proud to build lasting relationships and tell stories that matter. For us, success isn't measured in views or likes—it's measured in the lasting connections we help our clients build with their audiences. That's the real power of emotional content.
Can you share the story of a time when you had to pivot (in business, career or life)?
There was a pivotal moment in my career that completely reshaped my path. I was thriving as a social media strategist on the branding and creative team in corporate, developing many of the skills that I use today at ECP. The work was thrilling, challenging, and fast-paced – sometimes stressful, but deeply gratifying, especially seeing the growth and success of the systems and teams I'd helped build during my tenure.
Then, at what seemed like the height of my career, I learned one of life's hardest lessons: there's no such thing as corporate loyalty. After helping install and train a larger team to handle my responsibilities, my position was eliminated. I had gotten too comfortable in my cushy corporate role, and the impact was devastating because so much of my identity was tied to that position.
But when the storm clouds cleared, I saw the silver lining in this newfound freedom. I could rebuild my career and life on my own terms. Instead of just creating content, I could become a guide for businesses and individuals, helping them tell their authentic stories in ways that drive real growth and meaningful connections.
This pivot allowed me to become more deeply invested in my clients' success, free from corporate politics and red tape. At ECP, we guide businesses through the journey of discovering and sharing their authentic stories in ways that help them truly thrive and grow. We're not just creating content – we're building pathways for sustainable business success through authentic storytelling.
Looking back, what seemed like a career setback was actually the push I needed to build something more meaningful – a boutique agency that guides businesses toward their full potential through the power of authentic storytelling.
Can you tell us the story of how you built your audience on social media? Any advice for those just starting to build the social media presence?
I love sharing this perspective because it highlights an interesting paradox in our industry. There's a humorous post I once read on LinkedIn where a social media strategist advised 'don't judge a social media manager by their own profiles, but by the brands and profiles they spend their time and creativity managing.' While there's truth to this, I've learned it's actually counterintuitive to what I need to do as a guide for others – and that's practice what I preach.
As an advocate for building strong brands and personal branding, I believe my current and future clients need to see that I'm on the same storytelling journey they're embarking on. My ability to guide others in telling their stories is deeply connected to documenting and building my own expertise and influence online.
I've experienced many of the same struggles that my clients face in building a personal brand – imposter syndrome, overwhelm, perfectionism, analysis paralysis. These shared experiences have actually made me a better guide because I understand the challenges firsthand. They've shaped how we approach our client relationships and our own content strategy at ECP, where we focus on authentic storytelling that creates meaningful connections.
The most valuable piece of advice I can offer to individuals or businesses at the beginning of their storytelling journey is this: start before you think you're ready. When you have a dream, a vision, and a story to tell, you'll be amazed at what opportunities unfold once people start hearing that story. It's not about being perfect – it's about being authentic and allowing your audience to connect with your journey.
This philosophy has become central to how we guide our clients at ECP. We're not just creating content – we're helping businesses and individuals find the confidence to share their authentic stories in ways that help them truly thrive and grow.
LET’S WORK TOGETHER!
Get in touch to see how we can help you tell your story. Let’s chat!