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WIA Profile: Shirley Lara

How did you get into the business?

I started selling content in 2003, which lead to working with celebrity sites and working with affiliates.

I think each of my jobs in adult taught me something different from content development, traffic, websites, and models.

What in your background prepared you for what you are doing now?

Programming runs in my family and I grew up around computers. By 15 I built my first website. It was nice to have someone who would answer my questions and take the time to show me. I think each of my jobs in adult taught me something different from content development, traffic, websites, and models. All of this has helped me with my position as COO of Chaturbate.com.

Does your work life affect your personal life?

Not at all. When people ask what I do for a living I say I work with a software development company. In reality Chaturbate is a tech company. We are constantly coming up with new features and tools.

What do you see as the challenges of working in the adult online business? How do you overcome them?

As of right now Internet piracy. Both mainstream and adult are fighting this. We hired an outside company to help with DMCAs. Its amazing what’s available on file hosting sites.

Each month, industry news media organization XBIZ spotlights the career accomplishments and outstanding contributions of Women in Adult. WIA profiles offer an intimate look at the professional lives of the industry's most influential female executives. Women like Shirley Lara, COO of Chaturbate.com

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