By Courtney Bagby Lupilin
I’ve always been a reality TV enthusiast. From rooting for my favorite contestants on The Bachelor to binge-watching episodes of Big Brother and Netflix, my love for these shows was more than just a pastime—it was a dream that I needed to follow. The thing is – I didn’t want to BE them, I wanted to KNOW them and advocate everyday for them.
After graduating from University of Colorado at Boulder, I joined Oracle in San Francisco, moving west (back to my roots, I grew up in San Mateo) to handle internal communications and events. While I gained great corporate experience, my heart was set on the glamor of the celebrity world and figuring out how I could work with the people I loved most on TV on an everyday basis…
Driven by this passion, I made a move to Los Angeles in 2018—with no connections and a 50% salary cut from working in corporate to a job in talent management – my dream job. Sometimes you have to leave what you feel is “safe” to pursue your dreams. During my first year in Los Angeles, I went above and beyond and spent all my free time sliding into DMs and showing up at events and places where I knew reality tv stars and influencers might attend, introducing myself, and offering to do one-off jobs for them (usually for free).
My first big break was with Ashley Iaconetti from ‘The Bachelor’, who let me assist in creating an online community for her and the I Don’t Get It Podcast…cut to years later, not only did we work together but we became good friends, and she was the officiant at my wedding!
In 2019, I decided to go off on my own and start my talent management company, Little Red Management. I wasn’t just any talent manager starting out; I was a fan who knew the industry inside out because I genuinely loved it. This wasn’t about just making deals, it was about making meaningful partnerships that my clients and I could be proud of.
This past April also marked the first ever LRM Retreat, which included 15 of our clients and the Little Red Management staff. We went to Cancun, Mexico, where the goal of the retreat was to bring back human-to-human connection. Our goal is always to create lasting, lifelong partnerships not only between our clients and the brands they work with, but also within our company.
I believe in personal relationships. They are the core of my business philosophy. If I am not a fan of my clients, I can’t sell them passionately. This hasn’t come without its challenges. Starting a business, especially in an industry as cutthroat as entertainment, was intimidating. But I learned early on that confidence and persistence are key. I’ve always been the type to put myself out there—whether it’s reaching out to potential clients or pitching to big brands.
I’ve never been afraid to follow up, to be persistent, and to show brands the value of investing in my clients. This mentality has led to my company executing huge brand deals with companies like Mattel, Disney, Fox, Nike, Free People, and more.
The entertainment industry demands not just creativity and passion but also a relentless spirit. The initial days of setting up Little Red involved rejections, learning from feedback, and refining our approach. Each setback taught me something new about the industry, about my clients, and most importantly, about myself. Looking back, these experiences solidified my drive for success and made me the manager I am today.
Every day I get to experience such surreal moments, especially when you see all our campaigns that we work on come to life on social media. It is especially fun when I travel and the thing that connects me to new people is all the TV shows I work on! I’ve traveled the world and seen firsthand how TV shows, movies, and sports connect people across different cultures. It’s a reminder that entertainment is a universal language and I am lucky to play a part in it.
As I continue to grow Little Red Management, my goal will always be clear: to empower talent by securing deals they’re proud of, fostering personal relationships, and never losing the fan within me that makes all of this possible!
Courtney Bagby Lupilin, the CEO and Founder of Little Red Management, is the go-to talent manager for reality TV stars from shows on ABC, CBS, MTV and Netflix including The Bachelor Franchise, Big Brother, The Challenge, and Love is Blind. Courtney’s approach to influencer and celebrity brand management is rooted in her extensive knowledge and proclivity for pop culture, her ability to foster impactful brand and talent relationships, and her unwavering commitment to helping her clients achieve their dreams. Courtney has activated partnerships for huge brands including Disney, FOX, Hallmark, Nike, Adidas, Amazon, Dove, Lancome and more.
