Political Strategist Claims She Managed First Presidential Campaign at 18
"Being a woman, young at 18, manage a political campaign on social media when social media wasn't a thing, it was kind of like, who is she? She's young, she doesn't have a degree, she didn't have the thing, right? But then as I started moving, I've worked with soccer, which is fully male dominated."
About this episode
On this episode of On Purpose, host Jay Shetty interviewed Coral Santoro, a 28-year-old entrepreneur, political strategist, and tech founder who has managed four presidential campaigns and advised Fortune 500 CEOs despite having no college degree. Santoro, who built a massive social media following in just eight months, shared her unconventional path from starting as a fashion blogger at 18 to managing her first presidential campaign using social media before it was mainstream in politics. She revealed personal hardships including an amicable divorce before age 29, a financial scam that left her with only $12 and forced her to learn coding, and her father's life-threatening battle with cancer and sepsis that reshaped her urgency around time. The conversation centered on rejecting comparison culture, the myth of overnight success, and the discipline required when motivation fades. Santoro emphasized that success is defined by who you become in the process, not material outcomes, and stressed the importance of surrounding yourself with non-envious friends and supportive partners who celebrate your wins. She challenged the romanticization of entrepreneurship on social media, arguing that real success requires enduring boring, repetitive work and staying patient through years of silence. Santoro also introduced her "I Still Build" movement, which has reached 122 countries, and announced her upcoming book. The episode concluded with practical advice on building a social media presence, the power of communication in relationships and business, and Santoro's belief that respect is the one law the world needs most.
Key takeaways
- Santoro managed her first presidential campaign at age 18 with no degree and is now working on her fourth campaign.
- She built millions of social media followers in just 8 months, despite many thinking they had followed her for years.
- A scam early in her career left her with only $12, forcing her to learn coding and launching her tech career.
- Santoro revealed she was divorced before turning 29 and emphasized destigmatizing non-traditional life paths.
- Her father's battle with cancer and sepsis transformed her sense of urgency and perspective on time.
- She argues discipline trumps motivation because motivation fades while discipline sustains long-term success through boring work.
- Santoro hires team members based on how they treat service workers and their decisiveness, valuing character over credentials.