From Columbia to Hollywood: Alum Courtney Kocak’s Creative Journey Comes Full Circle
When Courtney Kocak arrived at Stephens College, she dreamed of a career in acting. Life ultimately took her in a different direction — a lesson that helped inspire Girl Gone Wild, the debut memoir from the Stephens alumna-turned-author.
Since graduating from Stephens, Kocak has built a successful career as a writer, podcaster and producer, with work appearing in major national publications, on television and in podcasts.
A Foundation Built at Stephens
Kocak attended Stephens College with the goal of becoming an actor. Pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts, she knew she wanted a college experience that would provide practical, real-world opportunities.
While she ultimately chose a different professional path, the relationships she built and lessons she learned at Stephens gave her the foundation to pursue her creative ambitions.
“My class was very tight-knit, and we’re still in touch to this day,” said Kocak. “Those relationships remain important to me. Stephens was an early lesson in taking myself seriously as an artist and trusting my creative instincts, even when I didn’t get the outcomes I wanted.”
Although it took several years for Kocak to officially pivot from acting to writing, she said exploring disciplines outside her major helped plant the seed for a future in storytelling.
“I was incredibly committed to acting during my time at Stephens, but I took a few directing and playwriting classes that gave me an early inkling that I might eventually want to explore other modes of storytelling,” said Kocak.
Following Creativity Wherever It Leads
At age 27, Kocak wrote her first essay while trying to move on from a breakup. The cathartic experience sparked a dream of writing a memoir that took years to realize.
“It took me 15 years to hone my craft and gain the wisdom that makes Girl Gone Wild a story I’m really proud of,” said Kocak.
Kocak’s path was anything but linear. She said following her curiosity and exploring different creative mediums ultimately led her to where she is today.
“I wound up having a multi-hyphenate career, which feels very natural to me because I’m deeply curious and hate feeling boxed in,” said Kocak. “Each medium offers its own benefits. Journalism gave me an outlet to explore topics through reporting. Podcasting gave me an outlet for deep conversations and opportunities to connect with people I admire. Comedy gave me space to explore my more outlandish ideas and indulge my inner performer. Memoir allowed me to unpack and make sense of my past.”
Kocak’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times. She has also written for Amazon’s Emmy-winning animated series Danger & Eggs, Netflix’s Know It All and several successful podcasts.
Finding Her Voice Through Memoir
Although Kocak spent years writing for various audiences and platforms, Girl Gone Wild presented a different challenge: telling her own story.
Through a collection of personal essays, Girl Gone Wild chronicles Kocak’s journey from a small-town upbringing to Hollywood, exploring ambition, identity and the challenges of pursuing creative dreams.
“I learned so much throughout the process, both creatively and personally,” said Kocak. “The most rewarding aspect was realizing that I had essentially written my way out of the shame I carried around some of the ‘mistakes’ I’d made in my younger years. Writing the book gave me a renewed sense of compassion and appreciation for my younger self.”
“You have to live beyond the event to gain perspective on what the story is really about,” said Kocak.
Kocak said Girl Gone Wild is the type of memoir she would have benefited from reading during her own college years, and she hopes current Stephens students and alumnae will find elements of their own experiences reflected in its pages.
“It explores that messy, uncertain period of becoming—trying to figure out who you are, what you want and how to survive while chasing big dreams,” said Kocak. “I have critiques about how things went down, but no regrets. Returning as an author reminded me how foundational those college years were in shaping both the person and storyteller I eventually became.”
Advice for Stephens Students
Kocak encourages students to diversify their skills, remain strategic and stay persistent.
“Blind ambition is ugly. Make sure you truly develop your craft and learn enough about your industry to be strategic about how you spend your time and energy,” said Kocak. “There are no shortcuts. Careers are built slowly, through persistence and sustained effort.”
Kocak also emphasized the importance of building genuine relationships. “It is one of the most valuable things you can cultivate,” she said. “Community matters far more than people realize.”
Financial stability is another lesson she encourages young creatives to prioritize.
“Get a reliable job with some flexibility that doesn’t require too much brain space,” said Kocak. “It’s hard to be creative when you’re constantly stressed about money. Waiting tables can be good. A side hustle, like being a makeup artist or photographer, can be even better. For about a decade, I worked as an apartment manager, which meant I didn’t have to worry about rent while I pursued various creative projects. That stability became an essential foundation for my creative life.”
A Full-Circle Return
Stephens introduced Kocak to one of her closest friends, fellow Stephens alumna and actor Danielle Doyen. Doyen was one of the reasons Kocak returned to Columbia, Missouri, in May for a reading and discussion of Girl Gone Wild at Skylark Bookshop.
“Danielle is actually a character in the book, and she was also part of my later revision process,” said Kocak. “So it was both fun and fitting to do the event with her. Coming back to Columbia with this book really did feel full-circle.”
