The Creative Mindset

Alternative career choices? Next travel destinations? Favorite food? We welcome back Ali Brown for a fun round of lightning questions. Ali Brown brings expansive knowledge of industry production and distinct storytelling to her roles as President and Partner of award-winning production company PRETTYBIRD and Academy Award-nominated creative studio Ventureland. Under Brown’s leadership, PRETTYBIRD’...

Life-altering incidents can profoundly impact us, often leading to periods of introspection and personal change. In this episode, Rei welcomes Ali Brown, the President and Executive Producer at Pretty Bird, for Part 2 of their conversation. Ali opens up about a powerful personal story of resilience and adaptation following a traumatic event. She also shares unique rituals for overcoming challenges...

The decision to hire someone based on who they are, rather than their past accomplishments, is a powerful approach that can redefine talent acquisition strategies. In this episode, Rei talks with Ali Brown, President and Executive Producer at Pretty Bird, to uncover the secrets behind spotting and nurturing new talent in the creative industry, and key strategies that have kept Pretty Bird at the f...

Rei Inamoto shares his reflections on age and relevance, drawing from his personal experiences. The Intersection is Rei’s free newsletter, exploring what the future holds at the intersection of creativity and technology. Subscribe to The Intersection to receive his latest editions directly in your inbox. Episode References: Aging and Relevance | Article Rei Inamoto | LinkedIn Rei Inamoto | Instagr...

Alternative career choices? Next travel destinations? Favorite food? We welcome back Oli Walsh for a fun round of lightning questions. Invisible Dynamics helps the world’s most ambitious Brands accelerate growth through harnessing creativity, culture, and commerce to drive revenue and relevance. Changing times require a new kind of support, and their programs, products, and platforms uniquely deli...

Making small changes in decision-making can lead to significant life impacts. In this episode, Rei welcomes back Oli Walsh, the visionary CEO of Invisible Dynamics, to discuss how Oli’s professional methodologies and personal habits contribute to his success. Oli emphasizes the importance of cultural curiosity and staying connected with emerging cultural trends for brand evolution. He highlights t...

What does it mean for brands to participate in culture? In this episode, Rei sits down with Oli Walsh, the visionary CEO of Invisible Dynamics, to discuss cultural relevance in branding, and take us behind the scenes of the electrifying Gap campaign that became a global sensation. In defining cultural relevance, Rei and Oli discuss how brands can authentically integrate into the cultural fabric wi...

Alternative career choices? Next travel destinations? Favorite food? We welcome back Haruka Aoki for a fun round of lightning questions. Haruka Aoki is a queer Japanese poet-illustrator and hope bender. They write and illustrate a regular narrative art column in The New York Times. Their picture book about a square navigating a world of circles, "Fitting In," was published in 2022 by Sky Pony Pres...

From meditation to meal sharing, daily rituals and habits have the power to bring out the best in your talent. Rei welcomes back Haruka Aoki, a Japanese poet and illustrator, to discuss Haruka's unique creative processes, aspirations to expand into various mediums, and day-to-day specifics of how they make a living as an artist. Haruka’s artistic process combines writing and illustrating with deep...

If you’re tired of conforming to "rules of society", it might be time to reconnect with your childhood dreams. Rei welcomes Haruka Aoki, a Japanese poet and illustrator, who made the bold transition from the corporate ladder to the vibrant world of art. Haruka details their journey from working as an art director in a healthcare company to becoming an acclaimed artist with works featured in public...

Rei Inamoto dives into how brand purpose lost its plot and why it’s up to CEOs, not CMOs, to fix it. The Intersection is Rei’s free newsletter, exploring what the future holds at the intersection of creativity and technology. Subscribe to The Intersection to receive his latest editions directly in your inbox. Episode References: Purpose v. Growth | Article Rei Inamoto | LinkedIn Rei Inamoto | Inst...

Alternative career choices? Next travel destinations? Favorite food? We welcome back BREAKFAST for a fun round of lightning questions. Andrew Zolty, known professionally as BREAKFAST, is a data and kinetic artist whose work centers on transforming real-time data from the natural world into digitally controlled kinetic artworks that tell stories. From the waves crashing on the beaches of Normandy t...

If you can teach yourself to focus, you'll find more hours in the day. Rei welcomes Andrew Zolty, an acclaimed data and kinetic artist professional known as BREAKFAST, for a behind-the-scenes look at his creative process. They discuss BREAKFAST’s transition from commercial design to full-time artistry and how he’s built a business around kinetic sculptures using real-time data. BREAKFAST shares in...

Using unique mediums can help differentiate an artist's work, giving it both distinctive appeal and commercial viability. Rei sits down with Andrew Zolty, an acclaimed data and kinetic artist widely recognized by his professional name, BREAKFAST. The episode delves into BREAFAST's career journey from being a commercial developer to a full-time kinetic artist. Known for integrating real-time data a...

Alternative career choices? Next travel destinations? Favorite food? We welcome back Merlee Jayme for a fun round of lightning questions. 2025 ADFEST LOTUS LEGEND Merlee has dedicated her life to pushing creativity forward. She is the Chairmom® and founder of The Misfits Camp, the first-ever safe space in the world to assess and upskill neurodivergent and deaf creative adults and bridge them to th...

Neurodiversity isn’t a disability, but a different wiring of the brain. Distinguished creative leader Merlee Jayme joins Rei for another episode to explore the current state of neurodiversity in the creative sector, examining the complexities and untapped potential it brings to the workplace. In the conversation, Merlee recounts her pivotal moment in her life two years ago, sparked by observing he...

What if the key to balancing work and life isn’t balancing at all? Rei speaks with Merlee Jayme, a distinguished creative leader from the Philippines, to explore the integration of work and life for success, a strategy honed by Merlee throughout her illustrious career in the creative industry. Her unique approach has not only made her a role model in her field but also provides valuable insights f...

Alternative career choices? Next travel destinations? Favorite food? We welcome back Rishad Tobaccowala for a fun round of lightning questions. Tobaccowala was named by BusinessWeek as one of the top business leaders for his pioneering innovation and TIME magazine dubbed him one of five “Marketing Innovators.  Rishad is the author of “Restoring the Soul of Business: Staying Human in The Age o...

Career relevance is a constant concern throughout anyone’s career, according to Rishad Tobaccowala, a visionary in creative business strategy and four-decade-long advisor to professionals and organizations. In this second episode, we discuss the common concerns that middle and senior managerial professionals encounter amidst continual change and technological advancements, such as AI. Rishad share...

The future of work isn't just about where we work, but how and why. Rei talks with Rishad Tobaccowala, a visionary in creative business strategy, to dissect the evolving landscape of work amid societal and technological upheavals. As the pandemic and AI innovations reshape global work dynamics, Rishad shares his unique insights on how both companies and leaders can adapt to these changes effective...

In this second episode with VP of Creative at Liquid Death, Andy Pearson, we explore the critical role of humor, the importance of taking time off to gain fresh perspectives, and the benefits of committing fully to creative ideas. Andy shares insights into his approach to marketing and life, reflecting on past experiences such as selling high-priced cookies to fund a pivotal career moment, and dis...

Liquid Death's approach to marketing? Don't just market – entertain. Rei talks with VP of Creative at Liquid Death, Andy Pearson, about how the unconventional brand uses humor, creative audacity, and bold characterization to elevate its marketing strategy. Andy discusses the origins of his relationship with the brand's CEO, his process of envisioning Liquid Death as a character rather than just a...

Alternative career choices? Next travel destinations? Favorite food? We welcome back David Charles Rodrigues for a fun round of lightning questions. David loves to give brands and IP the soul and longevity they deserve.  His work is part of the permanent collection of the Academy Museum - he is a Sundance alumni and TriBeCa Award-winning Brazilian-American filmmaker and creative director. In...

Pursuing dual career paths can be mutually beneficial and, at times, feed creativity. In this second episode with award-winning filmmaker David Charles Rodrigues, known for his work on Netflix's “Neymar: The Perfect Chaos,” we dive into how David’s dual roles in advertising and filmmaking feed into each other, the current creative industry landscape and the evolution of storytelling across differe...

Could writing and storytelling be the key to self-discovery? Rei talks with award-winning filmmaker David Charles Rodrigues to hear how it was for him, and how it might inspire you too. This week’s episode dives into David’s dual career in filmmaking and advertising, highlighting his transition from a creative director at leading agencies to crafting compelling documentaries that resonate with glo...