Meet Carrie Olsen of Kansas City, KS

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carrie Olsen.

Carrie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Growing up, I was so shy that some people wondered if I could talk at all. I really enjoyed being in a school musical performance in the fourth grade, but after seeing myself in the pictures, I was mortified (I looked so out of my element), and I vowed I would “never perform again.” Which, perhaps, is why voiceover is such a great fit for me. I can perform and be as animated and silly as I want–but no one ever has to see me!
My journey to voice acting wasn’t planned. I had never heard of voiceover as a career, it wasn’t on my radar. After college, I gravitated towards more “sensible” careers: working in corporate human resources and e-learning. I genuinely loved my work creating online courses utilizing adult learning theory. One of my passions is helping people learn by breaking content down and delivering it in the most helpful medium. But everything changed when I found out I was pregnant with my first daughter. I desperately wanted to work from home so I wouldn’t have to be away from her, but at that time remote work wasn’t as common as it is now. When my employer offered just one day a week from home, I knew something had to change.
The pivotal moment came during my morning commute when I heard a podcast interview with voice actor Alyson Steel. I remember thinking, “Wait, she does what? And she does it from home? And she has two kids?” There was something about it that lit me up inside. This was truly a hidden gem of a career that sounded too good to be true. I wondered if this was really something that I could do.
I sat on that feeling for a few days, wondering how my husband would react if I told him I wanted to spend some money on voiceover lessons. But the spark didn’t go away. I have a pretty high tolerance for risk, and a low tolerance for future regret. I didn’t want to look back and wonder what could have happened if I had tried it. And, thank God, through a combination of hard work, stubbornness, great coaching, and a bunch of things falling into place, within four months I was booking enough voice work to quit my corporate job. I learned later that this isn’t the typical timeline for most voice actors to build their careers to that level, but it showed me the potential of this path.
That leap of faith transformed into a full-time voice acting career working with clients like Disney and Universal Pictures. What started as a curiosity became a passion. As word got out and other aspiring voice actors started asking about how I built my business, I started a blog and wrote some articles that evolved into online courses and, eventually, coaching programs.
Now, I’m a wife, mom, and voice actor who helps others discover their authentic voice – both literally and figuratively. Ten years into this unexpected career, I’ve learned that our greatest opportunities often lie in places we never thought to look.
The creative path rarely appears on a career assessment, but when you stay open to possibilities and collect skills along the way, you can connect dots looking backward that you could never see looking forward. I’m passionate about encouraging others who might have creative desires that they’ve either kept secret or haven’t admitted to themselves yet.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
While I’m grateful for my early success, the voice acting journey hasn’t been without its challenges.
One of my first bottlenecks had to do with my recording space. I didn’t have a booth, so I would record out of a spare bedroom, then eventually a closet (and even from the bathroom of a travel trailer when we hit the road and traveled the country for nine months!). I was always nervous about if the space would be quiet enough or consistent enough. And anxiety is the last thing you want to be feeling when you’re supposed to be recording a care-free and upbeat commercial spot. I’d have to stop recording at the slightest noise – creaking stairs, a dog barking outside, someone mowing the lawn, rain, even the air conditioner kicking on. I felt like I unlocked a new level of professionalism when I finally invested in a proper sound booth, which my husband has now had to disassemble and rebuild through three different moves!
Then there’s the psychological challenge of putting yourself out there repeatedly. This is still an ongoing conversation for me. Voice acting is essentially professional rejection – you audition for 100 jobs to book maybe a handful. Learning to handle that rejection without taking it personally was crucial to my mental wellbeing. I had to develop what I call a “conversational mindset” – focusing on authentically connecting with the material rather than trying to sound “announcer-y” or perfect. And on the teaching side, I had to get comfortable with being the face of my business when it’s much more natural for me to be behind the scenes.
I remember the shock when students started calling me their “fearless leader.” I had to grow into being a coach and speaker, which pushed me far outside my comfort zone but ultimately helped me discover another passion.
Balancing it all as a working mom presents constant challenges, too. Fortunately, I’m a high capacity person, and I thrive on challenges, but this journey has stretched me in ways I never could have predicted. I’ve experienced burnout trying to juggle voice acting, course creation, coaching, and family life. A couple of years ago, I took a complete break from launching courses after realizing I was heading toward burnout. During that time, I asked myself, “Is this how I want to show up in the world?” That reflection period was essential for reconnecting with why I do this work.
Perhaps the biggest ongoing challenge is the unpredictable nature of creative entrepreneurship. Even after years of success, there’s always that little voice of doubt wondering if it’s all been luck and if it’s about to run out. Learning to manage uncertainty while trusting in my abilities to create my own success has been a continuous growth process.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a voice actor, I’m known for my promo work for shows like Netflix’s Gabby’s Dollhouse, as well as for major streaming platforms like Disney Plus and HBO Max (Now just Max). One of my most recognized jobs was the viral Grammarly YouTube commercial turned TikTok craze (“Writing’s not that easy, but Grammarly can help…”). I’ve voiced for movie trailers like “Ron’s Gone Wrong” and “Queen and Slim,” and I’ve live announced for the MTV Movie and TV Awards. I’m grateful to have an amazing team–my agent and manager–who work tirelessly to help connect me with opportunities like these.

My coaching business takes a holistic approach that distinguishes it from many other programs in the industry. Rather than following a rigid curriculum, I assess where each voice actor is and help them create a personalized path forward based on their unique background, interests, experiences, contacts, and skill level. This individualized approach has proven effective for both beginners and established voice actors looking to grow their business. One of the unexpected benefits of voiceover coaching is that it doesn’t just affect voiceover performance. Without fail, students looking to improve their voiceover skills end up confronting and leveling up in other areas of life as well: communication, confidence, resilience, perspective. The list goes on. Being a good actor requires vulnerability, empathy, and openness. Focusing on improving in those areas will inevitably bleed over into areas outside of voiceover as well. A motto I have is, “If you want to be a better voice actor, work on being a better person.”

I’m particularly known for my ferocious approach to marketing, modeling how to effectively promote a voiceover business in an increasingly competitive industry. Many voice actors are creative by nature but don’t like self-promotion, and I help them overcome that hurdle.

What I’m most proud of, though, is being a wife to my husband, Derek, and mom to my two daughters. I’m beyond grateful to have built a business that allows me to be present with my family. There’s something powerful about showing my daughters that it’s possible to create success on your own terms while staying true to your values.

In an industry often focused on fitting a mold, I emphasize authenticity and individuality. My Legacy Branding framework helps voice actors develop sustainable careers by building on what makes them uniquely valuable rather than chasing trends or constantly trying to “upgrade” to match others. This philosophy guides everything I do, from my own voice work to how I support others in finding their path in this amazing career.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Mentorship has been transformative in my career. My journey began with reaching out to Alyson Steel after hearing her on a podcast, which ultimately launched my voice acting career. But some of my most valuable mentoring relationships came from unexpected places.
One of my most influential mentors was a fellow voice actor I met at a co-working space, David Washington. He had been in the business for many years and generously took me under his wing. He taught me how to have the mindset of a professional voice actor—a lesson I couldn’t have learned from books or courses. More recently, I worked with a coach, John McKinney, who completely changed how I approach copy, reinvigorating my auditions and work.
For finding mentors, I recommend being open to connections in unexpected places. Sometimes the person sitting next to you at a conference or co-working space might become your greatest teacher. Be specific about what you’re looking for. Rather than asking broadly for “mentorship,” look for people whose career path or expertise you respect and mirrors what you’d like to achieve. Then reach out with focused questions that respect their time.
Be prepared to invest in coaching if your desired mentor offers it – good mentorship is invaluable. And though some mentors are happy to simply pay it forward for free, be sure to recognize that it is worth your investment to have your mentor invest in you. On the other hand, sometimes mentorship is super casual and looks like simply building a relationship with someone further along in their journey who’s willing to share their experience.
As for networking, I’ve found the most meaningful connections come from genuine relationship building rather than “networking” in the traditional sense. I booked one of my best gigs early on as a result of attending a conference and talking to fellow voice actors. You can get invaluable tips from being in spaces with fellow talent who understand the industry and are willing to share their knowledge.

Pricing:

• Voiceover work: Union talent (SAG-AFTRA scale rates)
• Free resources: Tons of resources on my blog at carrieolsenvo.com/blog; Voice acting newsletter with tips and training opportunities (join at carrieolsenvo.com) Free getting started guide: carrieolsenvo.com/gs
• Voiceover Success Intensive monthly membership: Community, resources, workout groups, and office hours – $47/month
• Speaking engagements: Please contact for corporate workshop and speaking rates

Contact Info:

• Website: https://carrieolsenvo.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/carrieolsenvo
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/carrieolsenvo
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/carrieolsen
• Twitter: https://x.com/carrieolsenvo
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@CarrieOlsenVoiceover/
• Other: https://carrieolsenvo.com/podcast/