Creative Leadership With Heart

Welcome to another captivating episode of Creative Chutzpah! Today, we are thrilled to have Joseph Emde, a dynamic theatrical producer from Big Picture Entertainment, join hosts Rico Nasol and Leonard Samuels for a deep dive into the complexities of hustle culture, mental health, and the pursuit of personal fulfillment in the bustling backdrop of Los Angeles. Joseph will share his journey from law...

Eric Jackson is the epitome of blending pragmatism with creativity. His journey into the marketing world began during his freshman year of college, where he initially enrolled to study international business. Motivated by a nomadic upbringing, Eric initially thought international business would be his gateway to a career that combined travel and trade. However, Eric soon encountered an unexpected...

Meet David Kim – the guy who pretty much nailed the networking game without even realizing it. It turns out, all those connections David was making on the fly? They were golden. When he wasn't busy making friends in high places, he was out there hustling – cold calls, cold emails, you name it. David was all about making moves to get what he wanted. He’s the type of guy who's not shy to sho...

Travis McCleery's career path is a narrative of discovery and change. With a deep-seated love for math, science, and art, Travis entered college with the goal of becoming an architect, only to find that his school didn't offer the program he desired. He opted for computer science as a temporary measure, planning to shift to architecture later. However, his first semester in computer scienc...

Jeremiah Jimeno's artistic journey began in the innocent scribbles of stick figures and the vibrant hues of coloring books from his childhood, where the allure of the art world first captivated his young mind. Fascinated by the transformative power of art on emotions, thoughts, and personal expression, Jeremiah found himself entranced by the creative process. His imagination, once fueled by th...

Romie's professional journey is a testament to the power of innate leadership and an unwavering work ethic. Her story begins within the bustling confines of a warehouse, where she inadvertently set the stage for her career in operations. It was there that a discerning observer recognized Romie's latent leadership abilities—qualities she hadn't yet seen in herself—but which resonated wi...

Welcome back to "Creative Leadership With Heart." I'm your host, Rico Nasol, and today we have a very special guest joining us, design maestro Leonard Samuels, the visionary behind Zadie Creative. In this episode, we're delving into Leonard's inspiring journey from humble beginnings to becoming a beacon of diversity and innovation in the creative industry. As we explore Leona...

Josh Webb, a rising musician with dreams of stardom, had traveled the breadth of the indie music scene alongside his four bandmates. Their journey was marked by intimate gigs and the taste of success, as their songs resonated on television, creating a tantalizing hint of what could be. The group, fueled by the belief that they were on the precipice of becoming the next U2, found themselves in Phoe...

Aamir Ghani, a lifelong traveler on the path of creativity, has always felt an intrinsic pull towards the artistic realm. His story begins in the bustling corridors of high school, where his academic record might not have turned heads, but his omnipresence in extracurricular activities certainly did. Aamir's identity was shaped amidst the backdrop of school theaters and production sets – a rea...

Barrie Adelberg's story begins in the colorful folds of fabric and the creative play spaces of childhood, laid out by a mother who crafted clothes and daydreams with equal skill. This enchanted upbringing paved the way for Barrie's future, intertwining the threads of imagination with a scholarly pursuit to weave something entirely new. Following in the intellectual footsteps of a father fa...

Meet Bryan Villagonzalo, a guy who's totally obsessed with sports, and not just in a chill, watch-the-game-with-friends way. He’s all about the NBA life and has managed to turn that passion into his gig. For Bryan, the coolest thing is that his role models and industry legends are just a desk away or maybe even on the other side of his next job application. He's living the dream, working a...

How will you make 2024 your best year ever? Is it Getting that promotion? Getting a raise? Or finally starting that business you’ve always wanted? Is it spending more time with family? Leaning more into your values? What is it? And What are you waiting for? To help you make this the best year ever I created a worksheet thats linked in the show notes. It will help you reflect on the past year, but...

Ashten "Whoopi", a creative force from a young age, grew up surrounded by the arts, thanks to a mother who was a school teacher with a strong inclination toward the performing and visual arts. Beyond this, Whoopi was influenced by a family of painters and digital artists, immersing him in a world that fostered his imagination and innovation. During his childhood, creativity was not just...

How will you make 2024 your best year ever? Is it Getting that promotion? Getting a raise? Or finally starting that business you’ve always wanted? Is it spending more time with family? Leaning more into your values? What is it? And What are you waiting for? To help you make this the best year ever I created a worksheet thats linked in the show notes. It will help you reflect on the past year, but...

Reed Clement has been fueled by creativity since childhood, with a passion that has long outlasted the whims of youth. His story began as a child of the late 1980s, a time when cinematic marvels captured hearts and ignited dreams. For Reed, the magic of movies wasn't just to be witnessed; it was a call to action—a siren song promising a life entwined with the art of storytelling. Spending over...

Ready to Unleash Your Leadership Potential? As a heart-centered leader, Rico Nasol has dedicated over two decades to creative executive experience, and now he's here to guide you. If you're looking to conquer self-doubt, foster vibrant work cultures, and prioritize people in your leadership journey, Rico's coaching can help you transform your path. Discover the power of heart-centered...

I was thrilled to be joined by the profoundly insightful Rom Alejandro. Together, we peeled back the layers of our multicultural identities and the rich tapestry of experiences that shape us as creatives and leaders. Rom candidly shared his journey—from the spark of high school projects to the big leagues of Netflix, and how his Filipino-American heritage influences his storytelling. We dove into...

Imposter syndrome, as Oxford puts it, is the persistent inability to believe that success is deserved. But let's get real. From Zappos to Netflix, I used to think luck played a bigger role than my abilities. I hesitated to speak up, thinking everyone else was smarter. So, how did I overcome it? I've got a simple acronym for you—W.O.R.T.H. Why? Because imposter syndrome often comes from an...

In today's episode, let's tackle the paralyzing grip of fear and the stories we tell ourselves. I share a compelling metaphor: The Elephant Rope. Imagine powerful elephants tethered by a seemingly fragile rope. Why don't they break free? It's conditioning—a reminder that our past shouldn't dictate our future. Reflect on your life. How often have past failures limited your belie...

Welcome to another illuminating episode of Creative Leadership with Heart, hosted by Rico Nasol. Today, we are joined by Shira Lee Katz, Head of Content Strategy at Coursera and an industry trailblazer in learning, media, and technology. Shira brings with her a bounty of wisdom from her rich experiences at Netflix and Common Sense Media, where she honed her expertise in product merchandising and d...

What does it REALLY mean to go with your gut? What's another way to approach this classic cliche that can make you a better creative and a better leader? Ready to Unleash Your Leadership Potential? As a heart-centered leader, Rico Nasol has dedicated over two decades to creative executive experience, and now he's here to guide you. If you're looking to conquer self-doubt, foster vibran...

Join me as Adrian Pittman, Global Design Leader at Cash App (and formerly from Google and Linkedin) discuss how quality and craft belong to everyone, not just Design. His talks about his love for solving problems using creativity to make innovative products. We also touch on how to really build trust with your teams, even in the most volatile job markets. Leading with vision. Designing for impact....

We all want to build high-performing teams, but the ability to do so is dependent on how much trust the organization has. These 4 quick tips on building trust can help you accelerate your path to high-performance and being one of the most effective teams in your organization. Ready to Unleash Your Leadership Potential? As a heart-centered leader, Rico Nasol has dedicated over two decades to creati...

Join me as I discuss Steve's creative journey of navigating New York Deli's, Creative Agency life and his pivot to Product Design Leader. We talk about the struggles, lessons learned, and how to thrive as a creative in today's tech industry. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kouros/ As VP of Design at Magic, my team and I are on a mission to demystify and promote blockchain technology for ev...

Join me as I discuss Parth's creative journey from his roots in India which had him table his creativity to leading distributed teams at Cash App. His story covers imposter syndrome, fear of feedback, and how Design can earn a seat at the table. Parth discusses his desire to be a creative as a child and how he had to table it for reasons that may sound familiar to a lot of us. Hear how he went...