Visit the FTF: Conference 2015 page for information on more of this year’s speakers and to purchase tickets to the event.

11 billion monthly views and 650 million subscribers are the types of numbers that most web-based companies would kill to be able to report. But, for Maker Studios, that’s just another day at the office. As the global leader in short form video and the largest content content network on YouTube, Maker Studios enlists over 55,000 independent creator partners from more than 100 countries and helps them develop their talent and programming to build lasting brands and create quality content that reaches a loyal audience.

As General Manager of Audience for Maker’s Life + Style talent network, Jenny Fancy oversees a team that manages talent and attracts new voices to the expanding roster of creators across genres including travel, food, DIY, fitness and, most importantly for us, fashion and beauty. She also launched Maker’s fashion and beauty YouTube channel, The Platform, which currently boasts over 34 million views and just shy of 400,000 subscribers.

Jenny will be on hand at FTF: Conference 2015 as a featured speaker, but we spoke with her in advance to find out more about what it takes to make it with Maker.

FTF: With all of the creators in the fashion and lifestyle space, what does it take for someone to stand out now?

Jenny: Because YouTube is such a personality driven platform, I’d have to say that is ultimately what sets one creator apart from the next. There are only so many ways to put your own spin on a popular format, and viewers turn into subscribers because of an engaging personality that they want to come back to.

FTF: There’s always a lot of talk about “brand building” among content creators – in a practical sense, what does brand building actually mean to you?

Jenny: Brand building means bottling the success that a creator has had on one outlet (be it YouTube, Instagram, or their blog) and strategizing how to expand that presence onto other platforms. This can come in the form of creating new and custom content for those different platforms, merchandise, working with brands and advertisers, etc. The great part about brand building in this space is that the creator is building their brand as an individual, not necessarily a “character.” Their fans have an intimate relationship with them, and many feel that they are supporting their best friend in their endeavors. It’s very different than the removed relationship that the previous generation felt with television characters and movie stars.

FTF: In general, have you found that the next generation of content creators coming up now are more savvy about that?

Jenny: I definitely think that this next generation of content creators has gotten into the space due to a certain desire to build themselves as a business, but it really depends on the individual. The original wave of Fashion + Beauty influencers, like the Michelle Phans and Bethany Motas, helped pave what the road to success looks like in this space. They’ve empowered this new wave of influencers to live a dream of having a clothing or makeup line, running their own network, or being on television. The new generation grew up watching those people go from bedroom vlogging to where they are today, and see that it really is possible to do whatever they feel passionate about, and do it on their own.

FTF: Is there any new talent right now that you’re particularly excited to be working with?

Jenny: We have an amazing roster of talent at Maker, and it’s great to watch all of them grow into their own – no one is taking the same path to success. We recently signed Mr. Kate, who is pretty much a wacky Martha Stewart; SierraMarieMakeup is a young talent that is growing quickly and gaining a lot of traction in the fashion space; and we just entered a partnership with The Zoe Report, so I’m very excited to start moving forward on projects with that team.