profile

WIA Profile: Sunny Leone

How did you get into the business side from performing?

I was introduced to the industry about nine years ago and did it because it sounded like fun. It wasn't something that I thought about beforehand, it just fell into my lap. Nothing prepared me for this job — it was all new to me. I saw that the way to make a long career in this industry was to own my own product and not just provide content for someone else. There was an opportunity to start a company with my partner so I took it and never looked back: We are now successfully releasing titles and enjoying the benefits of owning everything ourselves.

it's a 24-hour job

What changes have affected your work since you started?

Each year changed so much from the last that I would have to say everything about it affects my following year. We make mistakes in life or learn from past experiences, and that makes us grow as people. So there isn't one specific thing that affected my work. Early on I learned that this is a business and it's not just about making money and then spending it. I have the ability to be a leader in this industry and a role model for other performers. The key is to never dismiss a new idea — because you never know when something will pop up. We are always looking for new and creative people to work with. This is a brand we are creating, not just a set of pictures and video on a site.

What changes have affected you and your website(s) as the Internet has gone from exotic to commonplace?

Again, you have to see it as a business. In the past, it was easier to gain members but now the average surfer has more needs and more interests. I have for the first time partnered with another company to help my site reach the potential that it should and I am really proud of it. I believe there is a weeding process going on and I have aligned myself with the right people to stay competitive in this business. Our philosophy is simple: Be seen at all times. The more we can stay in everyone's face, the better we like it. My new partners have made it possible to take the site to a new level and I couldn't be happier.

What do you see as challenges to online adult enterprises as the economy tends to decline and discretionary spending slows? How are you approaching these challenges?

Industries are always changing and businesses always have to change to stay on top and keep making money. I believe we are going to go through a weeding process where companies are going to fold or sell to larger companies. The only way for a smaller business to do well is to be creative, do things that you would not normally do and really pay attention to your customer's needs. I partnered my website with one of the largest companies in our industry and that in itself helped me to do better than I have in all the years I have been in this business.

Does your work affect your personal life? How do you balance your work as a performer and your work as the operator of a website?

Yes, but only because it's a 24-hour job. You never really stop unless you force yourself. I have not gone on vacation in a long time, but now I have to really pay attention to my calendar and lock it in like a job. I guess it could be worse and I could not be working, but sometimes, just like most people, I would love a weekend getaway or — even better — my Saturday and Sunday off. I love my job though. I guess I can vacation when I am old.

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.

Related:  

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

How to Thwart Holiday Fraudsters With Finesse

The holiday season is a prime time for shopping. Unfortunately, it’s also peak season for credit card fraud. With increased transactions both online and in-store, fraudsters have more opportunities to exploit vulnerabilities — and they are getting better at it every day.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

How to Halt Hackers as Fraud Attacks Rise

For hackers, it’s often a game of trial and error. Bad actors will perform enumeration and account testing, repeating the same test on a system to look for vulnerabilities — and if you are not equipped with the proper tools, your merchant account could be the next target.

Cathy Beardsley ·
profile

VerifyMy Seeks to Provide Frictionless Online Safety, Compliance Solutions

Before founding VerifyMy, Ryan Shaw was simply looking for an age verification solution for his previous business. The ones he found, however, were too expensive, too difficult to integrate with, or failed to take into account the needs of either the businesses implementing them or the end users who would be required to interact with them.

Alejandro Freixes ·
opinion

How Adult Website Operators Can Cash in on the 'Interchange' Class Action

The Payment Card Interchange Fee Settlement resulted from a landmark antitrust lawsuit involving Visa, Mastercard and several major banks. The case centered around the interchange fees charged to merchants for processing credit and debit card transactions. These fees are set by card networks and are paid by merchants to the banks that issue the cards.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

It's Time to Rock the Vote and Make Your Voice Heard

When I worked to defeat California’s Proposition 60 in 2016, our opposition campaign was outspent nearly 10 to 1. Nevertheless, our community came together and garnered enough support and awareness to defeat that harmful, misguided piece of proposed legislation — by more than a million votes.

Siouxsie Q ·
opinion

Staying Compliant to Avoid the Takedown Shakedown

Dealing with complaints is an everyday part of doing business — and a crucial one, since not dealing with them properly can haunt your business in multiple ways. Card brand regulations require every merchant doing business online to have in place a complaint process for reporting content that may be illegal or that violates the card brand rules.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Girlsway Celebrates a Decade of Acclaimed Sapphic Erotica

When Girlsway launched back in 2014, Bree Mills had a plan. As head of production for Gamma Entertainment, she set out to up the stakes of all-girl content with the new imprint — and to continually, proactively reinvent the brand and its offerings along the way.

Alejandro Freixes ·
profile

WIA Profile: Patricia Ucros

Born in Bogota, Colombia, Ucros graduated from college with a degree in education. She spent three years teaching third grade, which she enjoyed a lot, before heeding her father’s advice and moving to South Florida.

Women In Adult ·
opinion

Creating Payment Redundancies to Maximize Payout Uptime

During the global CrowdStrike outage that took place toward the end of July, a flawed software update brought air travel and electronic commerce to a grinding halt worldwide. This dramatically underscores the importance of having a backup plan in place for critical infrastructure.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

The Need for Minimal Friction in Age Verification Technology

In the adult sector, robust age assurance, comprised of age verification and age estimation methods, is critical to ensuring legal compliance with ever-evolving regulations, safeguarding minors from inappropriate content and protecting the privacy of adults wishing to view adult content.

Gavin Worrall ·
Show More